England’s rising star Mimi Rhodes signaled her intent to contend at the Chevron Championship, even as world No. 2 Nelly Korda seized control of the first women’s major of the season. Korda posted a flawless seven‑under‑par 65, the best opening round she has recorded at a major in four years, positioning herself two strokes clear of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and South Korea’s Somi Lee.

In the same round, American amateur Farah O’Keefe joined a four‑way tie for fourth place after carding an opening 68. LPGA rookie Rhodes, making her debut at the event, posted a solid 69, which placed her in a ten‑player tie for eighth. "I think I felt ready," Rhodes explained.

"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 time allowed her to become more comfortable with the layout. "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 reflected on the confidence she gained 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 said. This freedom, she believes, helped her approach the Chevron with a calm mindset. "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, 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." Charley Hull, Rhodes’ compatriot and world No.

4, began her quest for a maiden major title with a level‑par 72. After her round, Hull sat five strokes behind the leader, tied for 26th.

Hull’s opening round was steady, but she fell short of the early pace set by Korda. Meanwhile, Tavatanakit posted a bogey‑free round with five birdies, and Lee recorded six birdies before a late bogey on the 18th hole.

China’s Yan Liu followed the early leaders with a four‑under‑par 68, while Rhodes settled into a group tied on three‑under after a strong start that featured two birdies in her first three holes. A bogey on the fourth hole slowed her momentum, but she rebounded with three more birdies to reach the turn in 32.

The only blemish on her back nine was a solitary bogey at the 11th, leaving her comfortably in the top ten. 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 salvage two birdies in the closing stretch, improving her standing slightly.

Hull, who was runner‑up in 2016, continues to chase her first major victory after missing the cut in Texas the previous year. Defending champion Mao Saigo entered the tournament with the confidence of a recent winner, having secured the 2025 title after a dramatic playoff against four other competitors. The Chevron Championship promises an exciting narrative as the field navigates the challenging Houston course.

Fans can follow the live coverage of the second round on Friday from 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available without a contract.

For those interested in playing the sport themselves, Sky Sports also offers booking services for over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Overall, the opening round set the tone for a tightly contested major.

Korda’s dominant performance places her in a strong position, but the depth of the field—highlighted by Rhodes’ promising debut and Hull’s steady play—suggests that the leaderboard could shift dramatically over the coming days. As the tournament progresses, the battle for the Chevron title will hinge on consistency, mental resilience, and the ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities while navigating the demanding Houston layout.