Nelly Korda returned to world No. 1 in the most emphatic way possible, winning the 2026 Chevron Championship at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston by five shots to claim the third major title of her career.
The 27-year-old American was never seriously threatened across four days in Houston. No one got within four shots of her during the entire weekend, and she played her final 29 holes in even par and still won by five — a statement of just how dominant her week was. She set or matched scoring records throughout and finished at 18-under par, her best winning margin at a major.
It was also a return to form after a difficult 2025 season in which Korda went winless. Her previous Chevron win came in 2024 at 13-under — already a significant performance. This time she went five shots further.
“I think that was the challenging point with like, where do I still play like Nelly and where do I play a little defensive?” Korda said. “I just really locked in.”
Tavatanakit and Yin give chase — briefly
Patty Tavatanakit and Ruoning Yin were the closest challengers, sharing second place at 13-under, but they were playing for the runners-up spot from some way out. Yan Liu and Ina Yoon rounded out the top four, both finishing at 12-under.
Korda entered the final round with a five-shot lead and closed with a 70 — two birdies on the first two holes, a couple more traded against bogeys on the back nine — and that was enough. There was no moment of drama, no late charge from the field. The trophy was hers long before she reached the 18th.
Woad and Hull deliver for GB&I
The performance of the week from a British perspective came from Lottie Woad, who carded a final-round bogey-free 67 to tie for seventh at six-under alongside Hannah Green and Ryann O’Toole. The young Englishwoman’s composed finish in a major field underlined why expectations around her continue to grow.
Charley Hull also made her presence felt, finishing tied for tenth at five-under alongside Angel Yin. Two GB&I players in the top 10 at the first major of the year is an encouraging sign for the European contingent heading into the rest of the season.
Top 10 Leaderboard — The Chevron Championship 2026 — Click Here
