Nelly Korda wins Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba for 18th career title
Introduction to Nelly Korda's Victory
Nelly Korda continues to make history look routine. The Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 closed out a wire-to-wire performance at the 2026 Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba with a final-round 3-under 69 on Sunday at El Camaleon Golf Course, finishing at 17-under to claim her 18th LPGA Tour title and her second in as many weeks. The 27-year-old American, who captured The Chevron Championship last week, what was her third major championship, walked off the closing par-5 18th with a bogey—just the second of her entire tournament—but by then the outcome was long settled.
Korda won by four shots over Arpichaya Yubol, who finished solo second at 13-under, with Yu Liu a shot further back in third at 12-under. It was a margin that reinforced just how untouchable Korda has been in 2026. The win was also defined by its near flawlessness. She posted three eagles during the week—on the par-5 18th in rounds one and three, and the par-5 fifth on Sunday—while recording only two bogeys total over 72 holes.
Tournament Highlights
Sunday’s round at El Camaleon was a story of contrasts. Korda turned in 4-under 32 on the front nine, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, which she credited to a well-struck 7-wood, followed immediately by birdies on holes six and seven. The sequence pushed her to 18-under through nine holes and effectively ended any pursuit from any of the chasers further down the leaderboard. On the back nine, Korda parred holes 10 through 17 and then made her lone bogey of the weekend on 18, signing for a 37 on the back nine and a closing 69.
The back nine offered little to the three-time major champion in the way of scoring chances. Korda finished the week hitting 52 of 72 greens in regulation, averaging 265.6 yards off the tee and needing just 109 putts across four rounds.
“I just made two mistakes all week,” Korda said in her post-round interview. “With how tight the fairways are and how hard this golf course is, I played some really good golf.”
A Record-Breaking Week
With the victory, Korda became the youngest American athlete to reach 18 LPGA Tour wins since Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez did so in 1980, a distinction that drew a heartfelt reaction from the champion in her winning press conference. She became the 26th American to earn 18 or more LPGA Tour wins and the first athlete of any nationality to reach the benchmark since Lydia Ko at the 2022 BMW Ladies Championship. This back-to-back stretch—The Chevron Championship followed immediately by the Riviera Maya Open—made Korda the first American player to win the week after a major championship since Meg Mallon in 2004 and only the 15th player since 1950 to accomplish that feat on the LPGA Tour.
Korda joins Lorena Ochoa (2008) as the only other athlete in Tour history to win The Chevron Championship and then the very next tournament. Korda’s five-shot margin of victory the week after a major ranks among the largest ever since 1980, surpassed only by Ochoa’s 11-shot margin at the 2008 Corona Championship and Se Ri Pak’s nine-shot win at the 1998 Jamie Farr Kroger Classic. The win saw Korda earn her 23rd LPGA Hall of Fame point, a hall that requires 27 points for automatic entry.
Player Statistics
Korda’s 2026 season statistics don’t just reflect a player in good form—they describe a player operating in a class of her own. Through six starts, she leads the LPGA Tour in strokes gained total at +4.23 per round and tops the field in strokes gained tee-to-green at +5.14, a comprehensive number that indicates virtually no weaknesses in her game.
Korda finished the week averaging 265.6 yards off the tee and needing just 109 putts across four rounds. She posted three eagles during the week—on the par-5 18th in rounds one and three, and the par-5 fifth on Sunday—while recording only two bogeys total over 72 holes. This kind of discipline on a course that demands sustained focus all four days was the clearest sign of just how locked in Korda was from the opening tee shot.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Nelly Korda's victory at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba marked her 18th LPGA Tour title and cemented her position as one of the most dominant players in the game. Her record-breaking week was a testament to her hard work and dedication to her craft. As the LPGA Tour continues into the summer months, it will be exciting to see how Korda and other top players perform. With a number of major championships still to come, there are sure to be more thrilling moments in store for golf fans around the world. For the best golf gear and tips, visit Golf Equipment on Amazon AU → and start improving your game today.
“It’s such an honor to have my name amongst so many legends,” Korda said. “I think one of my favorite days of the year has to be the Champions Dinner at Chevron, when all these legends come together and share their stories. To have my name among theirs is just a huge honor.”
Korda's success is an inspiration to golfers of all levels, and her commitment to excellence is a reminder that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there's always room for improvement and always something new to learn. So why not check out some of the latest golf gear and tips at Golf Clubs on Amazon AU → and see how you can take your game to the next level?
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