April 30, 2026, 7:25 p.m. ET
Nelly Korda arrived in Mexico to great fanfare, complete with sparklers and a serenade of “You are the champion.” After a dominate victory at the season’s first major, Korda spent Monday at the beach with her fiance, enjoying fresh guac and tacos.
Then it was back to work, with a pro-am and press conference and various interviews from the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, including SportsCenter.
On Thursday, she opened with a 4-under 68 at El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course, trailing veteran Brianna Do and rookie Melanie Green, who made an ace, by two strokes. Korda played the four par 5s in 5 under.
“It was windier in the afternoon than it was in the morning,” said Korda, “so happy with my round.”
This marks Korda’s first time competing in Mexico since 2017, though she had been to the tournament resort once before on vacation. She loves the heat and humidity in Mayakoba as well as the cuisine.
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“Everything has been so fun,” said Korda of the Chevron Championship aftermath. “The billboard up in New York City, that’s more of a pinch-me moment. It’s so crazy. Every one of my sponsors has come together and sent me amazing messages or really cool videos.
“There is one video the TaylorMade social team did where they put together of them all doing a cannonball into a pool.”
On Thursday, LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler posted some numbers from the week in Houston on his LinkedIn account that highlighted an increased in television viewership as well as a younger crowd onsite at Memorial Park. Broadcast viewership on Golf Channel was up 45 percent year-over-year.
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez played alongside Korda in the first round and matched her 68, including an eagle on the 18th.
“Very happy with how it went,” said Lopez. “It’s always a pleasure to play against world No. 1.”
Recent Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Maria Jose Marin opened with a 71.