Nelly Korda Dominates Chevron Championship, Joins LPGA Greats

All photos courtesy of the LPGA.

Words: Rick Woelfel

Photo: Nelly Korda during the final round of the Chevron Championship.

It was a display of understated excellence.

Nelly Korda’s performance at the Chevron Championship ranks among the greatest in LPGA history. From Thursday afternoon on, she left the field in the dust.

She completed the 72 holes at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas, at 18-under par. Ruoning Yin and Patty Tavatanakit tied for second, finishing five shots behind Korda at 13-under par.

Korda opened her week with consecutive 65s, and the outcome was no longer in doubt; Sunday’s finale was more of a coronation than a competition.

This marks Korda’s 17^th LPGA win and her third major championship (She won the Chevron Championship two years ago and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2021). She is once again ranked No. 1 in the world.

At age 27 and in her 10^th LPGA season, she’s been around long enough to have her accomplishment measured against LPGA greats from years past.

So, let’s do that.

Korda becomes the seventh American to win three major championships before age 28, joining Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, and Amy Alcott. All are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“They inspired me and I hope to inspire the next generation, the next girl that comes in and competes at a young age that wins four majors maybe under the age 28.

“At the end of the day, it's all about inspiring the next generation—the 13 Founders who paved the way for us. It's an amazing feeling to be alongside such an amazing group of women. I hope to continue.”

Korda is the first American to have won three major championships since Meg Mallon claimed her third in 2003.

 

Photos: Nelly Korda celebrates her winning putt.

Korda said major championships are the reason why she started playing golf.

“I walked on to the range at the U.S. Women's Open in 2013 at Sebonack and that's where I realized this is what I want to do. Playing against the best players in the world, playing a challenging golf course that’s testing every part of your game, but it's also testing you mentally.”

Most players agree that there’s nothing like the back nine of a major championship on a Sunday, and Korda is no different.

“There is no bigger rush of emotions that you feel. Right now the last thing I want to do is eat—I just feel sick to my stomach because there is a major rush of emotion.”

In five starts this season, Korda has won twice, and finished runner-up three times. Only Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam have matched that kind of start.

  

Photo: Nelly Korda with the Chevron Championship Trophy