Nelly Korda has proven herself the undisputed queen of women's golf after an undisputed win at the Riviera Maya Open in Mexico.

The world number one reached another career milestone, bagging her 18th professional tournament win in the LPGA. She is now officially recognized as the "youngest American player to get to 18 career LPGA wins since Nancy Lopez," at the age of 27.

This unprecedented record-breaking feat was first brought to light by golf reporter Justin Ray on X, highlighting the enormity of her rise through the ranks.

The legendary Nancy Lopez, the benchmark for Korda's latest milestone, still stands as one of the most influential players in golf history, having won 9 LPGA tournaments in her debut year of 1978. Lopez ended her professional career with an astounding 48 LPGA Tour wins.

Korda's record of winning 18 tournaments at such a young age places her alongside Lopez as a generation-defining player.

She bagged this championship with an excellent game, shooting 68, 67, 67, and 69 for a total of 17-under par for the tournament.

The four-shot victory over Arpichaya Yubol is particularly significant as it marks Korda's consecutive victories, coming immediately after her major triumph at the Chevron Championship just a week before.

Nelly Korda Chasing the Legacy of Annika Sörenstam 

Korda is currently one of two golfers who have started an LPGA season with six consecutive top-two finishes since 1980.

This incredible streak mirrors the one established by the renowned Annika Sörenstam in 2001.

"She is 1 of 2 players since 1980 to begin an LPGA season with 6 consecutive top-2 finishes," Ray observed, highlighting her historical consistency.  

Sörenstam began her 2001 season with a second-place finish at the YourLife Vitamins LPGA Classic, before going on to win at the Welch’s/Circle K Championship. She also won the 2021 Nabisco Championship, ending her top-2 streak with a win at The Office Depot Championship.

Similarly, Korda has won three of the six tournaments she started in 2026, winning at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the Chevron Championship, and most recently, the Riviera Maya Open.

She has also had runner-up finishes at the Fortinet Founders Cup, Ford Championship, and the Aramco Championship.

By matching the early-season consistency of Sörenstam, Korda has signaled that she is currently operating at a level rarely seen in the history of the LPGA Tour.

With the major championship season underway, it is evident that Korda is at the peak of her game, showing no signs of slowing down.

Now, the golfing world will follow Korda to Mountain Ridge in Michigan to watch her play the Mizuho Americas Open.

Will Nelly Korda continue her dominant streak in the following major championships in 2026? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Surjo Ray