England's rising star Mimi Rhodes has thrust herself into the mix at the Chevron Championship, even as world No. 2 Nelly Korda has seized the early advantage in the season's first women's major.
Korda delivered a flawless, bogey‑free round of 65, seven under par, marking her best opening score at a major in four years and placing her two strokes ahead of Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea's Somi Lee. American amateur Farah O'Keefe also made a strong impression, sharing a four‑way tie for fourth place after carding a 68. Meanwhile, LPGA rookie Rhodes, playing her debut in the event, posted a 69 to sit in a ten‑way tie for eighth.
"I think I felt ready," Rhodes said after her round. "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.
I feel a little more comfortable getting my bearings around. I did as much preparation as I could and, yeah, felt comfortable coming into this round. So it was really about committing and being confident out there, which I think I did." 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 place. "It was quite different mentally because I had an invite and there was no cut, so I could play more freely," she explained.
"I’ve kind of taken those emotions out of there because I tend to play well in the first round if I'm confident in myself, if I'm committing to shots, if I'm not worried about the cut line." She added that her approach for the Chevron would be to stay relaxed and not let the pressure of the first major of the year overwhelm her. "There are four more majors to go, so I just want to play relaxed golf and not put too much pressure on myself," Rhodes said. Across the fairways, fellow Englishwoman and world No. 4 Charley Hull began her quest for a first major title with a level‑par 72.
Hull, who finished as runner‑up at the 2016 event, was five strokes behind Korda and tied for 26th after the opening round. Hull's round was solid on the front nine, where she posted a 35 that included a birdie on the third hole, but three bogeys on the back nine kept her from moving higher on the leaderboard.
She did manage two birdies in her final three holes to improve her standing slightly. Patty Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free front nine with five birdies, while Somi Lee recorded six birdies before a late‑round bogey on the 18th.
China's Yan Liu also made an early impact, carding a 68 for a four‑under round, briefly sharing the lead before Korda's dominant 65. Rhodes' round began aggressively, with two birdies in her first three holes. A bogey on the fourth hole slowed her momentum, but she recovered with three more birdies to reach the turn at 32.
The only blemish on her back nine was a single bogey at the 11th, leaving her at three under par and firmly in the top ten. The tournament's defending champion, Japan's Mao Saigo, entered the week after securing a dramatic playoff victory in 2025. She will be looking to repeat her success as the field tightens.
Looking ahead, fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports throughout the week. The second round will be broadcast from Friday at 4 p.m.
on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available for those without a contract. Golf enthusiasts are also reminded of the broader LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour schedules for 2026, which feature a full slate of events across the globe. Beyond the tournament itself, Sky Sports offers a range of golf content, including the Sky Sports Golf Podcast and the ability to stream additional golf coverage via NOW. For those interested in playing the sport themselves, Sky Sports provides a service to compare prices and book tee times at over 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland.
As the Chevron Championship unfolds, the question remains: who will ultimately claim the title? With Korda already establishing a two‑stroke lead, Rhodes showing promising form, and Hull striving to break her major drought, the competition promises excitement and drama for golf fans worldwide.