Mimi Rhodes of England has positioned herself among the contenders at the Chevron Championship, even as Nelly Korda seized control of the opening women’s major of the season. The world No.

2, Korda, delivered a flawless round of seven‑under‑par 65 – her strongest start to a major in four years – and moved to the top of the leaderboard, two strokes clear of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee. Amateur Farah O'Keefe from the United States was part of a four‑way tie for fourth place after posting a solid 68 in the first round.

Meanwhile, LPGA rookie Rhodes, playing her debut in the tournament, carded a 69 and found herself in a ten‑player tie for eighth. “I felt ready,” Rhodes said after her round. “Arriving on Sunday gave me a chance to walk the course a bit more and get a feel for it, which was definitely an advantage.” She added that being on site longer helped her settle in.

“I was more comfortable finding my bearings. I did as much preparation as I could, and it paid off. It was really about committing to each shot and playing with confidence, which I think I managed.” Rhodes reflected on the confidence she gained from a recent strong showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, where she finished six‑under‑par and tied for 10th. “That event was different mentally because I had an invitation and there was no cut, so I could play more freely,” she explained.

“I’ve taken those positive emotions into this major. When I’m confident and committed, I tend to start well, and I wasn’t worried about the cut line.” She emphasized a relaxed approach for the rest of the tournament. “This is the first major of the year, with three more to go. I’m trying to stay relaxed, enjoy the golf, and not put too much pressure on myself.” Charley Hull, also from England and currently ranked No.

4 in the world, began her quest for a first major title with a level‑par 72. After the first round, Hull sat five strokes behind the leader, sharing the 26th position.

While Hull’s opening round was steady, she later fell back after a series of bogeys on the back nine, though she managed to recover with a couple of birdies toward the end. Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free round, recording five birdies in her first 18 holes, while Lee tallied six birdies before a late‑round bogey cost her a stroke. China’s Yan Liu, after a 68, was four‑under and briefly trailed the leaders before Rhodes settled into a group tied at three‑under.

Rhodes started strongly, making two birdies in her first three holes, but a double‑bogey on the fourth hole slowed her momentum. She rebounded with three more birdies to reach the turn in 32 strokes, and the only blemish on her back nine was a solitary bogey at the 11th hole.

Hull’s front nine was flawless, a 35 with a birdie on the third, but three bogeys after the turn dropped her momentum. She did manage two birdies on the final three holes, slightly improving her position.

Hull, who was runner‑up at the Chevron in 2016, is still hunting her inaugural major victory. She returned to the tournament after missing the cut in Texas the previous year. Defending champion Mao Saigo entered the week looking to repeat her 2025 triumph, which she secured after a dramatic playoff against four other competitors.

Fans can follow the unfolding drama of the Chevron Championship, the first women’s major of the 2026 season, with live coverage on Sky Sports. The second round will be broadcast from Friday at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, and the event can also be streamed without a contract.

For golfers looking to book a round, prices are available at more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Users can search by course name, city, or postcode to find the best deals, though some searches may return no results and require a new query.

Overall, the early stages of the Chevron Championship have set the stage for an exciting contest. Korda’s dominant start places her firmly in the lead, but Rhodes’s confident debut and Hull’s experience suggest that the leaderboard could shift dramatically over the coming rounds.

As the tournament progresses, viewers can expect high‑quality golf, strategic play, and the potential for surprise breakthroughs from both seasoned veterans and rising stars alike.