Is it 2024 or 2026? Nelly Korda is back in winning form, earning her third title of the season at the 2026 Riviera Maya Open at Mayakabo.
Korda has had an unbelievable start to her year, so it’s no surprise she’s recaptured the World No. 1 title. Her wins this season include the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and The Chevron Championship, her third major, in addition to this week in Mexico. Otherwise, she hasn’t placed worse than second all year.
Her first time playing this event, Korda set a new 72-hole tournament scoring record of 271 (-17). After round one, she wasn’t in her usual spot – one or two – but she remedied that with a 65 (-7) in her second round and then again in her third. Korda went from tied for first at the start of round 3 with Brianna Do to the outright lead heading into the final round.
When asked if Korda will return next year, she said, “Definitely…I’ve been here on vacation once and now I’ve come here to compete. I think it was a perfect week after a major championship, too, where it felt like it was super relaxing, but I knew that I needed to grind and I was here to work. So, it’s like a slice of paradise. The resorts are all unbelievable. The food is unbelievable. I must say I’m tacoed out. I’m not going to touch a taco for on the least two weeks now. I’ve had too many. Everyone has been so nice. I’ve had such an amazing time. Yeah, I mean, emphasizing it with a win, at the end of the day that’s what I was coming here for. There is an aspect to also being super relaxing and a fun vibe this week.”
Thailand’s Aprichaya Yubol chased Korda but to no avail. Korda won by four strokes and was the only player to shoot all four rounds in the 60s this week. However, Yubol felt like she still won.
“Finish[ing] two is kind of a win for me, too. It feels like that, because I can make birdie on the last hole to finish two,” she said.
Brianna Do, who was in contention last year against Chizzy Iwai, ended in fourth this year. “I think this week last year and this week this year has taught me a lot,” she said. “After last year, you know, going into it I believed that my best golf was still ahead of me even though I’m one of the older players out here, and I still believe that. It just showed this week. It’s hard to not get emotional, but I’m really proud of myself and how I played.”
Maria Jose Marin, the recent Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner and darling of Latin America, climbed up the leaderboard and birdied her last hole to finish in fifth and as the low amateur.
“The experience overall here in Mexico was amazing,” Marin said. “I think coming into the week I was pretty grateful that I got to compete in my second home. I was born here in Mexico, so it’s always good to be back. Overall, my game was in pretty good shape and ended up being the result that I wanted, and I think even a little better. Yeah, just really grateful with all the organization and every person that made this week possible. It’s been amazing.”
While Korda continues on her winning streak, it has also been fun to see the game’s newer stars join the spotlight.
The LPGA Tour heads to New Jersey next week for the Mizuho Americas Open. This is a special stop on tour because the pros will be playing alongside the top 24 junior golfers from the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.
Disclaimer: Some quotations may have been lightly edited for clarity.
