Following her five-shot victory at the 2026 Chevron Championship—her third major title—Nelly Korda has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, leapfrogging Jeeno Thitikul. This caps a strong start to the year for the American star amid the tournament's ongoing coverage.
Korda's triumph at Memorial Park in Houston propelled her past Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul, who had held the top spot since early August 2025 after victories at the CME Group Tour Championship and Honda LPGA Thailand. Thitikul has faltered lately, missing the top 10 in her last five starts, including a missed cut at Chevron. Korda, world No. 1 for much of 2024 after seven wins, stayed at No. 2 through a winless 2025. She opened 2026 with a win at the weather-shortened Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and runner-up finishes in her next three events before this major. She is now the first American with three majors since Meg Mallon in 2000. 'Honestly, if [last year] taught me anything, it’s to just focus on myself, not listen to the outside noise,' Korda said. She emphasized majors as her motivation, citing the thrill of Sunday back nines, and credited sister Jessica and idols like Tiger Woods for her major drive. For full tournament details, including her final-round strategy, see prior coverage in this series.
