Nelly Korda edged even closer to securing a third major championship as she shattered the 36‑hole scoring benchmark at the Chevron Championship, widening her advantage to six strokes as the tournament moved into its final round. The world No.
2, who captured the Chevron title two years earlier, posted a cumulative 14‑under‑par after carding a second consecutive round of 65, a score that no other competitor could match over the first two days – the nearest anyone came was a 67. Korda capped her impressive performance by birdieing the last two holes of the second round, further extending her lead. Remarkably, she recorded only a single bogey across her opening 36 holes at Memorial Park in Houston, underscoring the consistency that has defined her play this week.
This achievement represents the lowest 36‑hole total of Korda’s major‑championship career and ranks as the third‑best 36‑hole aggregate in LPGA major history. Only Jeongeun Lee 6 (127), Brooke Henderson (128) and In‑Gee Chun (129) have posted better numbers, all of which were recorded at the Evian Championship – the French event that was elevated to major status in 2013.
Korda’s six‑stroke cushion also ties the record for the largest 36‑hole margin at an LPGA major since 1980, a distinction previously shared by Patty Sheehan in 1990 and In‑Gee Chun in 2022. When asked about her mindset, Korda explained, “I feel comfortable with my game. The part of my game I’m most at ease with is my mental approach – I know that if I make a mistake I can work it out. Sometimes you get caught up trying to play perfectly and stay on top, and that creates tension and a fear of making errors.” At the halfway point, Korda held a six‑stroke lead over Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, who sat alone in second place at eight‑under‑par.
A trio of players – South Korea’s Ina Yoon, Ireland’s Ryan O’Toole and amateur Farah O’Keefe (one of eight amateurs in the field) – were tied for third, each a shot further back. World No. 1 Jeongee Thitikul suffered a surprising early exit, missing the cut after opening with a 74 and following up with a 73 on Friday, leaving her three over par.
LPGA rookie Mimi Rhodes, who had been in contention after an opening 69, also failed to make the cut, collapsing over her final five holes to finish a six‑over‑par 78. Other notable English competitors, Charlie Hull and Lottie Woad, made the weekend cut, sitting at two‑under and one‑over respectively after posting rounds of 70 and 72 on Friday.
The final round of the Chevron Championship will commence on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf, with live streaming available without a contract.
Golf enthusiasts can also tune into the Sky Sports Golf Podcast for additional insights and analysis. As the tournament approaches its climax, the question on everyone’s mind is who will ultimately lift the Chevron trophy. With Korda’s dominant position, a strong mental game, and a record‑breaking performance already under her belt, she appears poised to add a second Chevron title to her résumé.
However, the unpredictable nature of major‑championship golf means that any contender who can mount a charge in the final round could still threaten her lead. For fans looking to experience the excitement of live golf, streaming options are available through various platforms, and those interested in playing the sport themselves can find competitive rates at over 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland. Whether you’re watching from home or planning a round on the green, the spirit of the game continues to thrive.