England's rising star Mimi Rhodes found herself in the mix at the Chevron Championship, while Nelly Korda asserted dominance over the first women’s major of the season. The tournament, held in Houston, saw world number two Korda fire a flawless seven-under-par 65—her strongest opening round at a major in four years—propelling her two strokes clear of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee.
Among the notable performances, American amateur Farah O'Keefe shared a four‑way tie for fourth place after carding a solid 68. LPGA rookie Mimi Rhodes, making her debut on the big stage, posted a respectable 69, which placed her in a ten‑player tie for eighth. "I think I felt ready," Rhodes said after her round.
"Getting here on Sunday was probably a benefit to me that I was able to see the course a bit more and just be on site a bit more. 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 managed." Rhodes reflected on the confidence she gained from her recent showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, where she finished six‑under and tied for 10th.
"That event was mentally different because I had an invitation and there was no cut, so I could play more freely," she explained. She believes that freedom allowed her to strip away pressure and focus on execution.
"I tend to play well in the first round when I’m confident in myself, when I’m committing to each shot, and when I’m not worrying about the cut line. That’s the mindset I brought into this major. It’s the first of four majors this year, so I’m trying to stay relaxed and not put too much pressure on myself." Charley Hull, a fellow Englishwoman and world number four, began her quest for a maiden major title with an even‑par 72, leaving her five strokes behind the leader and tied for 26th after round one. Hull, who was runner‑up at the 2016 edition, has returned to the Chevron after missing the cut in Texas the previous year and remains eager to add a major to her résumé.
The early rounds featured a flurry of birdies. Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free round with five birdies, while Lee recorded six birdies before a late bogey on the final hole.
China’s Yan Liu briefly joined the leaders with a four‑under 68 before Rhodes settled into a three‑under group. Rhodes started strongly, making birdies on two of her first three holes before a bogey on the fourth halted her momentum. She rebounded with three more birdies to reach the turn in 32 strokes, and a solitary bogey at the 11th 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 recovered with two birdies surrounding a dropped shot in the final three holes, ending the round level par. The defending champion, Japan’s Mao Saigo, entered the tournament with confidence after securing a dramatic playoff victory in 2025. She looks to repeat her success as the field tightens. As the competition progresses, fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports.
The second round will be broadcast from 4 pm on Friday across Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available without a contract. Golf enthusiasts are also encouraged to explore booking opportunities at over 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland, with convenient search tools for course, city, or postal code. Overall, the Chevron Championship has set the stage for an exciting major season.
With Korda’s commanding lead, Rhodes’s promising debut, and Hull’s determination to break through, the tournament promises compelling storylines as the remaining rounds unfold.