Nelly Korda secured a four-shot victory at the 2026 Riviera Maya Open at El Camaleón Golf Course in Mayakoba, Mexico. The win marks her third LPGA title of the season and 18th career victory. Despite a chaotic final hole, she celebrated her dominant performance.
Nelly Korda entered the final round of the 2026 Riviera Maya Open with a three-shot lead over Arpichaya Yubol after shooting 68-67-67 through three rounds to reach 14 under. She extended her advantage early Sunday with an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch on holes 5, 6 and 7, building a seven-shot lead before closing with a bogey on the 18th for a four-shot win. This triumph follows her five-stroke victory at the 2026 Chevron Championship, the season's first major, where she claimed her third major title and reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Korda now has six top-two finishes to start the season and more wins (three) than players who have beaten her (Hyo Joo Kim twice, Lauren Coughlin once). She became the youngest American since Nancy Lopez in 1980 to reach 18 LPGA wins and the first to win the week after a major since Celine Boutier in 2023. On the par-5 18th, Korda's tee shot went into the jungle, her third into a fairway bunker, and her next over the green into patrons, but she saved bogey from a sandy lie. “You just never know,” Korda told Karen Stupples afterward. “It’s golf. Like on the last hole here, I was humbled by golf there. I had a pretty smooth day and on the last hole just kind of like humbles you a little bit.” Pre-tournament, she explained her drive to compete: “Whatever I set my heart to. I mean, I just love competing and I love being out here competing.” Korda went 60 holes without a bogey this week and has 23 of 27 points needed for LPGA Hall of Fame eligibility. She plans to rest next week before the Kroger Queen City Championship and U.S. Women’s Open.
