Nelly Korda fired a 65 at Memorial Park to take the early lead at the 2026 Chevron Championship. The world No. 2 quickly transitioned to physical recovery for an early Friday start.

Korda opened with a 7-under 65 at Memorial Park, taking the early lead in the 2026 Chevron Championship. Even with this positive score, Korda highlighted that windy weather meant she needed full concentration to deal with the difficult layout.

“I'm just going to go hit the range for a little bit and then go eat some food, get treatment,” said Korda about what is coming next after the round. Korda highlighted the necessity of quick preparation for her early tee-off on Friday.

Korda's performance in 7-under par included mastering challenging pin locations. This approach allowed her to build her lead against other players in the morning round.

Ball-striking became the key focus for Korda in today's game. As she put it herself, “It’s all about the second shot in on this golf course,” meaning that she prioritized iron shots and positioning rather than distance drives.

Moreover, Korda deliberately decided to skip the JM Eagle in Los Angeles and spent her time exercising in the gym as well as mentally recovering.

Nelly Korda Has Already Learned Her Lesson About Recovery

After winning at Lake Nona in February 2026, Korda took an extended six-week break. And that came due to a plethora of health struggles the LPGA pro has battled in the last few years, right from a blood clot to a neck spasm.

When she returned to competition in March, Korda emphasized how important the recovery process has been.

"I’ve seen my body deteriorate over that. and I get into the zone of possibly getting injured. Golf is already tough mentally, and then flying cross-country, traveling by yourself, sleeping in a different bed—I’m getting to the age where I’m feeling that now."

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar