Nelly Korda is entering the 2026 Riviera Maya Open after reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking on April 27, 2026, by winning The Chevron Championship.

When asked about her reaction to reclaiming her World No. 1 spot at the pre-tournament conference for the Riviera Maya Open, Korda said, "Obviously it's an amazing accomplishment."

However, she simply sees it as an acknowledgement of who is playing the best gold. "But it's so different versus any other sport," said Nelly Korda.

"In tennis, let's say there is an advantage to being the No. 1 player in the world. In golf, there is no advantage to being the No. 1 player in the world," she added in response to the question.

The American champion will return to play in Mexico for the first time since 2017, and she is looking forward to playing at the well-regarded El Camaleón Golf Course.

Being World No. 1 won't change her approach. "I don't really focus on the ranking too much. I just focus on the simplicity of golf… and do the best that I can," she remarked.

Maintaining Form Without the Ranking Advantage 

Korda makes her entry into Mexico at the peak of her game, having conquered the 2026 season so far. In five tournament appearances, she won the HGV Tournament of Champions and clinched her major victory at the Chevron Championship.

Interestingly, even in the tournaments she has not won this year, she came second in all three. Korda claims that her 'bulldog' mentality comes from constant progress.

"I'm always striving to be better and to contend in every major, every tournament," said the 27-year-old. Korda explained that if she misses out on winning one tournament, she immediately aims to win the next.

Korda remains firmly committed to the future and focuses on the challenges she will face at the upcoming event. She talks about how the future is what matters most to her, saying, "Life is not a sprint, it's a marathon."

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi