Nelly Korda Builds Commanding Lead at Chevron Championship
Nelly Korda, who secured her first major victory at the Women's PGA Championship in 2021, has taken a strong lead in the Chevron Championship, the first women's major of 2026.
Second Round Standings at The Chevron Championship
Current leaderboard after the second round at Houston's Memorial Park Golf Course is as follows:
- -14: Nelly Korda (US)
- -8: Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand)
- -7: Farah O'Keefe (US), Ryann O'Toole (US), Ina Yoon (South Korea)
- -6: Yu Liu (China)
- -5: Pauline Bouchard (France), Maja Stark (Sweden), Mina Khang (US), Thidapa Suwannapura (Thailand)
Selected others include:
- -2: Charley Hull (England)
- E: Hye-Jin Kim (South Korea), Lexi Thompson (US), Momoka Yamashita (Japan), Mone Inami Saigo (Japan), Hannah Green (Australia)
- +1: Lily Woad (England), Brooke Henderson (Canada)
- +2: Minjee Lee (Australia)
Korda's Performance and Lead
Korda, currently ranked world number two, shot a seven-under-par 65 for the second consecutive day, extending her lead to six shots after the second round. She recorded five of her eight birdies on the back nine on Friday, reaching a total of 14 under par. Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit is positioned second after a bogey-free 69.
The 27-year-old American is pursuing her third major championship and her first since winning this event in 2024.
"I just feel really good," Korda said. "I'm hitting it in the spots that I want to, missing it into the spots that I want to."
Other Notable Performances
American amateur Farah O'Keefe also posted a bogey-free 69, moving to seven under par and tying for third place with fellow American Ryann O'Toole and South Korea's Ina Yoon.
Korda has demonstrated strong form this year, having won the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and achieving three consecutive runner-up finishes.
She previously won this event in 2024 at The Club at Carlton Woods, also located in Houston. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Tavatanakit won the tournament in 2021 when it was known as the ANA Inspiration, held in California.
"Chasing, leading, whatever - I feel like I'm just glad I have this opportunity to be in the mix," Tavatanakit commented.
Players Missing the Cut
Jeeno Thitikul, the world number one and compatriot of Tavatanakit, will not participate in the weekend rounds after bogeying two of her last five holes and missing the cut by one stroke.
England's Mimi Rhodes also missed the cut after a second-round 78, which included three bogeys and a double bogey in her last five holes, following a three-under-par round on Thursday.
