Nelly Korda: The Powerhouse in Control – Right After Her Major Title!
Folks, get ready: World No. 1 Nelly Korda is picking up right where she left off last week at the Chevron Championship. Freshly crowned with her third Major title, she seized the shared lead at the LPGA Riviera Maya Open after the second round – and with a closing birdie to boot! What a statement!
The 27-year-old American delivered a truly sensational round at the El Camaleon Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. A bogey-free round of 67, five under par, brought her to an incredible nine under 135 strokes after 36 holes. She was really attacking the greens!
Korda herself coolly reflected: "It was a good day. I hit my tee shots really well. Placed the ball in the right spots on the green and capitalized on good shots." When Nelly speaks, we listen.
Tied with Korda is compatriot Brianna Do, who posted a strong round of 69 and is chasing her very first LPGA title. Hot on their heels is American Melanie Green, who is just one shot back with 136 strokes after carding a 70. Japan's Minami Katsu is also very much in contention with a 68 and an overall 137 strokes, holding fourth place.
What a run! Korda just claimed the Chevron Championship last week, her third Major title, and prior to that, the LPGA Tournament of Champions at the start of the 2026 season. In her other three starts this year, she finished in second place in each. That is pure dominance, golfers!
Korda, who started the day two shots behind co-leader Do, ignited a birdie barrage: on the 2nd, the par-5 5th, and the par-3 8th, before adding more on the 14th and the par-5 18th, thus securing the shared lead. "Overall, just a solid day," Korda commented. "I really didn't make any mistakes. And if I did, I came back really well."
Brianna Do started on the back nine with back-to-back birdies – a dream start! She then followed with birdies on the par-3 15th and the par-4 2nd, before a frustrating bogey on the last hole concluded the round. Do euphorically commented on her start: "I started with two birdies on 10 and 11, my first two holes, and that really got things rolling. There was a bit of a lull in the middle of the back nine, but I kept it together and shot three under par, so a good, solid round."
In a tie for fifth place with 138 strokes, we find Spain's Carlota Ciganda and China's Liu Yu, who carded an impressive 66, the round of the day. Congregating in seventh place, with 139 strokes each, are Germany's Olivia Cowan, Mexico's Gaby Lopez, Paraguay's Sofia Garcia, and Thailand's Arpichaya Yubol. The field is really strong; anything can still happen!
