England’s rising star Mimi Rhodes has signaled that she belongs among the leaders at this year’s Chevron Championship, even as world No. 2 Nelly Korda seized control of the tournament and set a blistering pace.
Korda’s flawless seven‑under‑par 65 – her best opening round at a major in four years – placed her two strokes ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee, establishing an early gap that will prove difficult to bridge. In the same round, American amateur Farah O’Keefe impressed by joining a four‑way tie for fourth place with a solid 68, while rookie LPGA member Rhodes posted a respectable 69 on her debut, landing her in a ten‑player tie for eighth. Rhodes reflected on her performance, noting that arriving on Sunday gave her the advantage of extra course familiarity. “I think I felt ready,” she said.
“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.” She added that the extra practice time helped her settle in, allowing her to focus on committing to each shot with confidence. “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, yeah, it was just more about committing and being confident out there, which I thought I did.” Rhodes also referenced the lessons she learned from her strong showing at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, where she finished six‑under and tied for 10th.
“It was quite different mentally because I had an invite and there was no cut, so I could play more freely,” she explained. That freedom, she believes, helped her to strip away pressure and play her best golf when it mattered most. Looking ahead, Rhodes emphasized a relaxed mindset for the remaining majors. “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.
So that’s what I’ve come in to do here. It’s the first major of the year, there are four more to go, so I’ll just play relaxed golf and not put too much pressure on myself.” Meanwhile, fellow Englishwoman and world No. 4 Charley Hull opened her campaign with a level‑par 72, which left her five strokes behind the leader and tied for 26th after the first round.
Hull, a former runner‑up in 2016, is still chasing her maiden major title after missing the cut in Texas the previous year. Patty Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free round featuring 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 impact, carding a four‑under 68 and briefly sharing the lead before Rhodes settled into a three‑under group. Rhodes’ round began explosively, with two birdies in her first three holes.
A setback arrived on the fourth hole, where she recorded a bogey‑five, but she quickly recovered, adding three more birdies to reach the turn in 32 strokes. The back nine was largely smooth, marred only by a solitary bogey at the 11th, leaving her with a solid overall score. Hull’s front nine was flawless, a 35 that included a birdie on the third hole. However, three bogeys after the turn threatened her momentum.
She managed to steady herself with two birdies surrounding a dropped shot in the final three holes, demonstrating resilience despite the challenges. Defending champion Mao Saigo entered the tournament with confidence after securing the 2025 title in a dramatic playoff, and she will be looking to repeat her success amid a field stacked with talent. Fans can follow the unfolding drama of the Chevron Championship throughout the week on Sky Sports.
Live coverage of the second round begins Friday at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available without a contract. The tournament promises to deliver high‑stakes competition as the world’s best women golfers vie for the coveted title.
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Nelly Korda’s commanding lead, Mimi Rhodes’s promising debut, and Charley Hull’s determined pursuit of a breakthrough all contribute to a narrative rich with potential storylines. As the tournament progresses, the question remains: who will ultimately lift the Chevron trophy and claim the first major title of the season?