England's Mimi Rhodes has positioned herself as a serious contender at the Chevron Championship, while Nelly Korda has seized control of the first women’s major of the season. The world No.2, Korda, posted an immaculate bogey‑free round of 65, seven under par, marking her best opening performance at a major in four years.
Her stellar play placed her two strokes ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee. American amateur Farah O'Keefe was also in the mix, sharing a four‑way tie for fourth place after carding a solid 68.
Meanwhile, LPGA rookie Mimi Rhodes, making her debut at the tournament, recorded a 69 and found herself in a ten‑player tie for eighth. Rhodes explained her confidence, saying, "I think I felt ready. Getting here on Sunday was probably a benefit to me because I was able to see the course a bit more and just be on site a bit more." She added that familiarity with the layout helped her settle in, "I feel a bit more comfortable getting my bearings around.
I did as much prep as I could and felt comfortable coming into this round. It was just about committing and being confident out there, which I think I did." The Englishwoman also reflected on lessons learned from her impressive showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, where she finished six under par and tied for 10th. "It was quite different mentally because I had an invite and there was no cut, so I could play more freely," Rhodes said. She believes that freedom allowed her to focus on the process rather than the pressure of making the cut.
Rhodes continued, "I’ve taken those emotions out of the equation because I tend to play well in the first round when I’m confident, when I’m committing to my shots, and when I’m not worried about the cut line. That’s the mindset I brought here – the first major of the year, with three more to go, so I’m trying to play relaxed golf and not put too much pressure on myself." Charley Hull, another English player and world No.4, opened with a level‑par 72, leaving her five strokes behind the leader and tied for 26th after the first round. Hull, who was runner‑up in 2016, is still chasing her maiden major title after missing the cut in Texas the previous year.
Patty Tavatanakit posted a flawless front nine, birdieing five of her first 18 holes, while Somi Lee recorded six birdies before a late bogey on the final hole of the day. China’s Yan Liu also made an early impression, posting a four‑under 68, before Rhodes settled into a group tied at three under. Rhodes started strongly, making two birdies in her first three holes before a bogey on the fourth hole slowed her momentum.
She recovered with three more birdies to reach the turn in 32 strokes, and a solitary bogey on the 11th was the only blemish on her back nine. Hull’s front nine was immaculate, a 35 with a birdie at the third hole, but three bogeys after the turn threatened her rhythm. She managed to claw back with two birdies flanking a dropped shot in the final three holes, keeping her within striking distance. Defending champion Mao Saigo entered the tournament after winning a dramatic playoff in 2025, adding extra intrigue to the competition.
The field is stacked with talent, and the narrative of who will ultimately lift the Chevron Championship trophy remains open. Fans can follow the action live throughout the week on Sky Sports. The second round coverage begins on Friday at 4 p.m.
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In summary, the opening round of the 2026 Chevron Championship has set the stage for an exciting major. Nelly Korda’s commanding lead, Mimi Rhodes’s promising debut, and Charley Hull’s quest for her first major all contribute to a compelling storyline. As the tournament progresses, viewers can expect high‑quality golf, shifting leaderboards, and the inevitable drama that defines major championship play.
The race is on, and every round will bring new opportunities for players to stake their claim on the coveted title.