HOUSTON — Nelly Korda enters the Chevron Championship rejuvenated and ready, having opted out of the recent L.A. tournament. Korda's decision mirrored that of Hannah Green, who flew in from L.A. after her playoff victory at the JM Eagle Championship, arriving in Houston at dawn. Exhausted from the long journey, Green chose to forgo practice on Monday, indicating a need for rest with a simple text to her caddie, Dave Buhai.
“I was texting Karrie Webb and she was like, ‘I hope you're taking the day off,’ ” Green said. “And I was like, ‘yes, I am.’ ”
Korda, who faced similar travel challenges last year, consciously chose to skip the JM Eagle to arrive in Houston well-prepared for the 2026 Chevron Championship.
“It was a hard decision because Walter and Shirley Wang, they put on such an amazing event in L.A.,” Korda noted. “But our finishing time is 6 p.m. … it's also an hour from the airport in L.A., so getting here at proper time is really hard, almost impossible.”
With Houston's unpredictable weather in April, the certainty of rain posed another reason to make the trip more manageable. Korda arrived in Houston on Sunday evening and was up early Monday for an 18-hole practice round, utilizing her time effectively after learning from her previous encounters with late weather interruptions.
Last year’s experience still stung for Korda, who faced significant delays that affected her preparation. After a disappointing opening round of 77, she wished she had managed her early week schedule more wisely. This year, her decision to skip L.A. has provided her with much-needed breathing room.
So far in the season, Korda has been on fire, finishing no worse than second in all events, including a victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Speaking about her approach this year, she highlighted the importance of self-care and planning her schedule meticulously.
After her win, Korda stepped away from competition for six weeks, opting to skip tournaments in Asia. Following a series of three runner-up finishes, she took a four-day break from golfing practice to revitalize her mind and body.
“If I'm rested, then I can give 100 percent to what I'm doing on the golf course,” Korda stated. “I can put in extra hours instead of being out there and being like, OK, I finished this. Time to go to the next thing.”
A Historic Season Start
Korda's remarkable start to the 2026 season has historical significance. According to research from the Elias Sports Bureau, she is the third golfer since 1980 to achieve four finishes of first or second early in a season. The other two players were legends Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam, both of whom went on to win the first major of their respective years.
A victory this week would mark Korda's third career major title and earn her 22nd point towards LPGA Hall of Fame induction, needing 27 total points.
Having previously won the Chevron Championship in 2024 during an extraordinary season, Korda also participated in the annual champions dinner, enjoying a meal crafted by Michelin Star chef Thomas Keller, filled with tales from past champions and current competitors.
“I was at the current player table where everyone is playing and active,” Korda shared. “Then you have the legends at one table and they're all screaming and having fun.”
As for her assessment of Memorial Park, Korda considers it a second-shot golf course, acknowledging that a lot will depend on the weather and course setup. In a light-hearted moment, she confirmed her plans to take a dip in a newly installed plunge pool if she secures a win this week, an initiative by the tournament organizers near the 18th green.
Korda’s preparation and strategic decision-making appear set to pay off as she aims for another major championship win this week at the Chevron Championship.