Nelly Korda Keeps the Heater Going, in Early Contention in Mexico

The Nelly Korda we're seeing in 2026, feels different from the one we saw win seven times in 2024.

There's no question that the World No. 1's game is in immaculate form, but her mental steadiness, the way she's carrying herself both on and off the course feels more complete. She's growing into herself and her abilities as a player and that's something to behold.

"I'm always striving to be better and to contend in every major, every tournament. Just because what I've accomplished, what's funny with sports is that's in the past. What you want to do is look to the future and look to improve and look to it contend in the bigger events," Korda said earlier in the week about her next set of goals. "Even if you get beat, it doesn't matter. That's kind of what motivates me to continuously put myself in that position."

Her dominant, wire-to-wire win at the Chevron felt like a statement, and it's carrying over into her play this week in Mexico. Korda is teeing it up this week for the first time at the LPGA's Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba and is taking early command carding opening rounds of 68-67, respectively.

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But she's not running away with it like we saw her do in Houston.

LPGA veteran player Brianna Do is making just her third start this season and has a share of the lead alongside Korda, after her opening scores of 66-69.

Do has been making headlines recently after she qualified for the 81st U.S. Women's Open that will be held at the famed Riviera Country Club in a few weeks. It'll be the 36-year-old's first USWO in nine years!

A top-10 finish this week will be a huge momentum swing for her heading into the second major of the year that's right in her backyard.

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