Nelly Korda races out the gate to lead Chevron Championship after first round

Nelly Korda vaulted to the top of the leaderboard on day one of the Chevron Championship, the first ladies major of the season, with a flawless round of seven-under 65 at Memorial Park GC in Houston.

Korda, 27, is going in search of a second Chevron title having won the tournament in 2024, albeit at a different venue of The Club at Carlton Woods. 

The American is also looking to land a hat-trick of major titles having also won the 2021 Women's PGA Championship. 

Korda revealed on the eve of the tournament that she was not willing to seek the advice of PGA Tour players who recently played Memorial Park GC at the Texas Children's Houston Open, because she wanted to do her own homework on Chevron's new venue. 

And it most certainly showed on day one as Korda raced out the gate with a flawless seven-under 65. 

Korda started on the 10th hole and went out in two-under with birdies on the 12th and 16th.

The world number two then turned on the afterburners with birdies on the first, second, third, seventh and eighth. 

The 16-time LPGA winner has now opened up a two-shot lead after the first round on Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee.

Korda might not have won on the LPGA last season, but she would appear to be making up for lost time so far in 2026. 

She won in her first start of the season at the Tournament of Champions, and has since added three straight runner-up finishes. 

Korda's opening round of 65 marks her lowest ever first round at a major, no doubt something that will be ominous to her rivals. 

It's also her second first-round lead at a major. 

"It's been simple," said on-course commentator Karen Stupples of Korda's first round. 

"I've been watching Nelly play the last few weeks, and it seems like she's had a progression, slowly but steadily, she's looking better and better.

"The driving has been magnificant and this golf course allows her to just open up her shoulders and just hit as she wants to.

"Her putting has also been fantastic. Her stroke looks smooth. There is a patience to her stroke and a patience to the putt, she just knows it's going to find the bottom of the cup."

After the round, Korda said: "Overall I just felt really good out there. I missed the ball in the correct spots, it's all about the second shot on this course. It's all about placement going into the greens."

Further down the leaderboard, English duo Charley Hull and Lottie Woad opened with rounds of 72 and 73 respectively. 

Elsewhere, world number one Jeeno Thitikul started with a lacklustre two-over 74.

Thitikul, who is still looking for a first major title, bogeyed four of her last eight holes to fall out of early contention.