England’s rising star Mimi Rhodes has thrust herself into the mix at the Chevron Championship, while Nelly Korda has seized the early advantage at the season’s first women’s major. Korda, currently ranked second in the world, posted a flawless seven-under-par 65, her best opening round at a major in four years, and now leads by two strokes over Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee. Amateur Farah O'Keefe from the United States also made an impression, sharing a four‑way tie for fourth place after carding an opening 68. Meanwhile, LPGA rookie Rhodes, playing her debut in the tournament, recorded a 69, positioning herself in a ten‑way tie for eighth.

"I think I felt ready," Rhodes explained. "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 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." Rhodes noted that her confidence has been bolstered by her performance 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 said.

She added that she has learned to separate emotion from execution, especially in the first round of a major. "If I’m confident, if I’m committing to my shots, and if I’m not worrying about the cut line, I tend to play well," Rhodes said. "That’s what I’m trying to do here – play relaxed golf, not put too much pressure on myself, and enjoy the first major of the year." Charley Hull, another English contender and currently ranked fourth globally, opened with a level‑par 72, leaving her five strokes behind Korda and tied for 26th after round one. Hull, who was runner‑up at the 2016 Chevron Championship, is still hunting her first major title after missing the cut in Texas at the same event a year ago.

Patty Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free round with five birdies in her first 18 holes, while Somi Lee recorded six birdies before a late bogey on the final hole of the day. China’s Yan Liu also stayed close to the leaders, posting a four‑under 68 before Rhodes settled into a group tied on three‑under. Rhodes started strongly, making birdies on two of her first three holes before a bogey on the fourth hole slowed her momentum. She rebounded with three more birdies to reach the turn in 32 strokes, and a single 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 on the third hole, but three bogeys after the turn dented her score, although she finished strong with two birdies surrounding a dropped shot in her final three holes. The tournament’s defending champion, Japan’s Mao Saigo, entered the week after clinching a dramatic playoff victory in 2025.

She will be looking to repeat her success as the field tightens. As the Chevron Championship progresses, the narrative will focus on whether Korda can maintain her two‑stroke lead, if Rhodes can climb higher on the leaderboard, and whether Hull can recover from her opening round to contend for the title. The second round will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, with streaming options available without a contract.

For golf fans seeking to experience the sport firsthand, Sky Sports offers a platform to book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Users can search by course name, city, or postal code to find the best rates and availability. Overall, the Chevron Championship promises an exciting early season showdown, with established stars and newcomers alike vying for the coveted green jacket.

The competition will likely intensify over the coming days as players adapt to the Houston course, manage pressure, and chase their major ambitions.