England's Mimi Rhodes has positioned herself among the leaders at the Chevron Championship, even as Nelly Korda seized the early advantage in the first women’s major of the season. Korda, currently ranked second in the world, posted a flawless seven-under‑par 65—a personal best start to a major in four years—placing her two strokes ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee.
Amateur Farah O'Keefe from the United States was also in the conversation, sharing a four‑way tie for fourth place after a solid opening round of 68. Meanwhile, LPGA rookie Rhodes recorded a 69 on her debut, slotting her into a ten‑player tie for eighth. "I think I felt ready," Rhodes said when asked about her performance. "Getting here on Sunday was probably a benefit to me because I could 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 just about committing and being confident out there, which I think I did." Rhodes reflected that her recent showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, where she finished six‑under and tied for tenth, helped shape her mindset. "It was quite different mentally because I had an invite there and there was no cut, so I could play more freely," she explained.
"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 worrying about the cut line. That’s what I aimed to do here.
This is the first major of the year, there are four more to go, so I just want to play relaxed golf and not put too much pressure on myself." Her compatriot, world No. 4 Charley Hull, began her quest for a maiden major title 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 at the 2016 Chevron Championship, missed the cut in Texas a year earlier and is eager to improve on that result.
Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free round with five birdies in her first 18 holes, while Lee recorded six birdies before a late‑round stumble cost her a stroke. China’s Yan Liu, who was the third‑closest player after Korda’s 65, carded a four‑under 68, briefly sharing the early lead 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 rebounded 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, by contrast, enjoyed a flawless front nine of 35, highlighted by a birdie at the third hole, but three bogeys after the turn threatened her position.
She recovered with two birdies flanking a dropped shot in the final three holes, demonstrating resilience. The tournament also featured defending champion Mao Saigo, who entered the week after clinching a dramatic playoff victory in 2025.
Saigo will be looking to repeat her success as the field tightens and the pressure mounts. Beyond the competition itself, Sky Sports is offering extensive coverage of the Chevron Championship. Fans can watch live action throughout the week, with the second round beginning on Friday at 4 p.m.
on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event. The event is also available for streaming without a contract, providing flexible viewing options for a global audience. For golfers interested in playing the courses featured on the tour, Sky Sports Golf promotes a booking service that lists more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Users can search by course name, city, or postcode to find tee times and special offers, though the current search function is temporarily returning no results.
As the Chevron Championship unfolds, the question on everyone’s mind is who will ultimately claim the title. With Korda already establishing a two‑stroke lead, Rhodes staying within striking distance, and Hull striving to find her rhythm, the tournament promises a compelling blend of talent, determination, and the unpredictable drama that defines major championship golf.
Watch the live coverage on Sky Sports to follow each shot, each leaderboard shift, and the eventual crowning of the 2026 Chevron Champion.