Ahead of the 2026 Chevron Championship, two-time major winner Nelly Korda reacted to the Champions Dinner menu curated by Mao Saigo with Thomas Keller.

During a press conference shared via LPGA on YouTube, Korda shared her experience from the dinner.

“It was unbelievable. Chef Keller does an amazing job. I've been to two of his restaurants in the U.S., Per Se and Surf Club in Miami. The experience when you go to those restaurants and the food and the cuisine is just unbelievable,” said the 2024 Chevron Championship winner on Tuesday.

Korda has already experienced the same process, having worked with Thomas Keller to curate the Champions Dinner menu after her 2024 win. 

As host in 2025, Nelly Korda worked with Thomas Keller to shape the Champions Dinner menu around her Czech background, following the format used for the event each year.

Then, on April 20, 2026, she returned to the dinner at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston as a past host, stepping into a setting led by Mao Saigo after her 2025 playoff win.

"For him to come in and create a Champions Dinner and for Mao to curate it the way she did, it was a very enjoyable night," Korda added.

The dinner marked the start of the Chevron Championship, which runs from April 23 to 26 in Houston.

Mao Saigo returns as the defending champion following her 2025 win, and the purse for the 2026 edition is set at $9 million.

With the pre-tournament formalities complete, attention now shifts from the dinner table to the field, where players are assembling for the week ahead.

Chevron Championship 2026 Field Led by Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul, and Hyo Joo Kim

The players arriving in Texas, with the top three in the Rolex Rankings: Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul, and Hyo-Joo Kim, are leading the field, each already holding a win this season. 

While Thitikul looks for her first major after a runner-up finish at The Amundi Evian Championship in 2025, Hyo Joo Kim returns in search of another major title to follow her 2014 victory at The Evian Championship.

At the same time, Stacy Lewis steps in for her final start after announcing her retirement in 2025.

The field also reflects the scale of the event, bringing together players from multiple countries, including past major winners and former champions of this tournament, as the week moves toward the opening round.

Which player are you watching this week? Will Nelly Korda hold her ground, or can Jeeno Thitikul or Hyo Joo Kim take control? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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Written by

Aditi Singh