England’s rising star Mimi Rhodes signaled her intent to compete for the title at the Chevron Championship, even as world No. 2 Nelly Korda seized the early advantage in the first women’s major of the 2026 season. Korda’s flawless round of 65, seven under par and free of any bogeys, marked her best opening performance at a major in four years and placed her two strokes ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee. Among the notable performances was that of American amateur Farah O'Keefe, who joined a four‑way tie for fourth place after posting a solid 68 in the opening round.
LPGA rookie Mimi Rhodes, making her debut at the event, carded a 69, which positioned her within a ten‑player tie for eighth place. Rhodes explained that she felt prepared for the challenge. “I think I felt ready,” she said. “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 the extra time allowed her to become familiar with the layout, giving her confidence to commit to her shots.
“I feel a bit more comfortable getting my bearings around. I did as much prep as I could and, yeah, felt comfortable coming into this round. So, it was just about committing and being confident out there, which I think I did.” She also referenced her recent showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, where she finished six under par and tied for 10th place. “That tournament was different mentally because I had an invite and there was no cut, so I could play more freely,” Rhodes reflected.
“I’ve 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, and if I’m not worried about the cut line.” Rhodes emphasized that her approach for the Chevron would be to stay relaxed and avoid over‑pressuring herself. “This is the first major of the year, with four more to go, so I’m just going to play relaxed golf out there and not put too much pressure on myself,” she said. In contrast, fellow Englishwoman and world No. 4 Charley Hull opened with a level‑par 72, leaving her five strokes behind Korda and tied for 26th after the first round.
Hull, who was the runner‑up at the 2016 edition of the tournament, is still chasing her maiden major victory after missing the cut in Texas the previous year. Patty Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free round with five birdies in her first 18 holes, while Somi Lee recorded six birdies before a late‑round stumble cost her a shot. China’s Yan Liu also made an early impression, posting a four‑under 68 to sit just behind the leading duo before Rhodes settled into a three‑under group. Rhodes started strongly, making two birdies in her first three holes before a bogey on the fourth halted her momentum.
She recovered with three more birdies to reach the turn in 32 strokes, and a single bogey at the 11th hole was the only blemish on her back nine, allowing her to finish at three under par. Hull’s front nine was flawless, carding a 35 that included a birdie on the third hole.
However, three bogeys after the turn threatened her position, though she managed to claw back with two birdies surrounding a dropped shot on the final three holes, ultimately finishing at even par. Defending champion Mao Saigo entered the week with confidence after winning a dramatic playoff in 2025, and she will be looking to retain her title as the field tightens.
The Chevron Championship will continue to unfold over the next week, with live coverage on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event starting at 4 pm on Friday for the second round. Viewers can also stream the tournament without a contract through various online platforms. Beyond the competition, golf enthusiasts can take advantage of special offers to book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. By entering a course name, city, or postal code, players can find the best prices and availability, although some searches may return no results if the criteria are too narrow.
As the tournament progresses, the question remains: who will ultimately lift the Chevron Championship trophy? With Korda’s early dominance, Rhodes’s confident debut, and Hull’s quest for redemption, the final stages promise excitement and high‑stakes golf for fans worldwide.