Nelly Korda had an up-and-down week in her title defense at the Chevron.
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Nelly Korda’s week at the 2025 Chevron Championship began with a champions’ dinner that celebrated her Czechoslovakian heritage and wowed guests with $4,000 caviar. It ended with a respectable title defense but also one regret about the first major week of the 2025 LPGA season.
A year ago, Korda won the Chevron as part of a five-wins-in-five-starts streak, but her 2025 tournament got off to a rocky start when she fired a five-over-par 77 in the first round. After seven holes on Friday, Korda sat well off the projected seven-over cut line. But the World No. 1 rallied, making six birdies in her final 11 holes to play the weekend and eventually finish in a tie for 14th, five shots behind winner Mao Saigo.
After Sunday’s final round at The Club at Carlton Woods, Korda reflected on an up-and-down week filled with gutsy play but not enough prep time to successfully defend her title.
“Unfortunately, I flew in from L.A. on Monday, so I didn’t really get to see the golf course until Tuesday, and that was a pro-am,” Korda said after her final round on Sunday. “So, I wish if I could do anything again I wish I prepared a little bit more, got a few more rounds and reps under my belt.”
Korda had played the JM Eagle LA Championship the week before and planned to play the Chevron pro-am on Tuesday before getting a full look at the course on Wednesday. Korda got nine holes in early on Wednesday before inclement weather hit the Houston area, forcing the course to shut down until the afternoon. Korda opted to focus on recovery instead of getting back out on the course in the afternoon, which could have contributed to her rocky opening round.
“So wanted to prioritize my rest, but at the end of the day, I mean, you just got to roll with the punches and continue learning,” Korda said. “I just played the pro-am, the front nine, so didn’t get to chip, putt, see how the greens are releasing, since with this new pro-am protocol where we can’t chip and putt anymore. So not having that kind of sucked. At the end of the day, I mean, I did have the chance to play in the afternoon on Wednesday and I didn’t take it, so it’s on me.”
Playing the LA Championship tightened up Korda’s Chevron schedule, but she won’t have to adjust her schedule to avoid a similar issue at the remaining four majors.
She will play in the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open before the AIG Women’s Open, but will not play the week before the U.S. Women’s Open, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, or The Evian.
Korda’s blistering run in 2024 set a ridiculously high bar. She won seven times en route to winning the Rolex Player of the Year Award and Rolex Annika Major award. The 2024 season was one for the ages, but it’s just a memory now for Korda. She has yet to win in 2025 and knows her game needs sharpening with the next four majors fast approaching.
“It’s been a grind of a week,” Korda said. “Walking onto the eighth tee on Friday I was seven over, so I’m proud of my fight. Obviously, I have a lot to work on. Last year was last year. [2024 was] such an amazing year but it’s in the past. It’s not going to help me with my future. If anything it’s just going to put more pressure on myself. I have to leave it in the past and continue working hard and moving forward.”
Korda will tee it up again in two weeks when she defends her title at the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey. She’ll then take a week off before heading to Erin Hills for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, where she’ll hopefully be sharper and better prepared for the major test that awaits.
