World No. 1 Nelly Korda made a calculated decision to prioritize rest over prize money ahead of the Chevron Championship, skipping the JM Eagle LA Championship to avoid the grueling travel schedule that hampered her preparation last year.
While Hannah Green celebrated her playoff victory in Los Angeles, she faced the brutal reality of tournament scheduling. Green boarded a red-eye flight at 1 a.m. and landed in Houston just after 6 a.m., immediately heading to her Airbnb to crash after checking in at the golf course.
"I was texting Karrie Webb and she was like, 'I hope you're taking the day off,'" said Green. "And I was like, 'yes, I am.'"
Korda experienced this same exhausting schedule last year, which influenced her decision to skip one of the tour's most lucrative events. The timing creates significant logistical challenges for players trying to compete in both tournaments.
"It was a hard decision because Walter and Shirley Wang, they put on such an amazing event in L.A.," said Korda. "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."
The strategy proved immediately beneficial. While Green was landing in Texas, Korda was already warming up on the putting green after arriving Sunday night. She completed a full 18-hole practice round Monday morning, taking advantage of clear weather before Tuesday's pro-am was disrupted by storms.
Korda's preparation becomes even more critical given Houston's unpredictable weather patterns and Memorial Park serving as a new venue for the championship. Wednesday's forecast calls for additional stormy conditions, making Monday's practice round invaluable.
Last year's Chevron experience reinforced the importance of proper preparation for Korda. She took Monday off from the course, then had her schedule disrupted by weather delays Wednesday. After struggling to an opening 77, she later expressed regret about her early-week preparation.
This season, Korda has maintained an unprecedented level of consistency, finishing no worse than second place in every tournament entered. Her season began with victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, followed by three consecutive runner-up finishes.
According to Elias Sports Bureau research, Korda joins elite company as just the third player since 1980 to begin a season with four or more finishes of first or second place. The previous two players to achieve this feat were Karrie Webb in 2000 and Annika Sorenstam in 2001, both of whom won that year's first major championship.
"If I'm rested, then I can give 100 percent to what I'm doing on the golf course," said Korda. "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. Checking things off instead of working on my craft and being out there and losing myself in it."
Korda's approach to rest and recovery has become a cornerstone of her 2026 campaign. After her Tournament of Champions victory, she took six weeks off from competitive golf, skipping the Asian swing entirely. Following her streak of second-place finishes, she again stepped away from golf for four days, focusing on gym work and mental refreshment.
"I was at the current player table where everyone is playing and active," said Korda. "Then you have the legends at one table and they're all screaming and having fun. And just listening to their stories, Pat Bradley spoke, Lydia spoke, there are so many stories that people share during those nights."
A victory this week would give Korda her third major championship and 22nd LPGA Hall of Fame point, moving her closer to the 27 points required for induction. Her 2024 Chevron victory capped an extraordinary run of five consecutive titles during a seven-win season.
For this week's championship, Korda chose practicality over prestige in her transportation choice. While past champions can drive a Bentley, she opted for the Cadillac Escalade to accommodate sister Jessica and nephew Greyson, who are in town for the tournament.
Korda characterized Memorial Park as a second-shot golf course, setting up what promises to be a strategic battle among the world's best players as they navigate both the course challenges and Houston's unpredictable weather conditions.