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Nelly Korda Wins 18th Title
Player Focus

Nelly Korda Wins 18th Title

📅 May 2026 🏷 Player Focus

Nelly Korda wins Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba for 18th career title, back-to-back victories

Nelly Korda Makes History Again

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. 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. The victory was a testament to Korda's dedication and hard work, and it solidified her position as one of the top golfers in the world.

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. The margin of victory was a clear indication of Korda's dominance on the course, and it reinforced her status as a force to be reckoned with in the golf world. To improve your own game, consider checking out Golf Equipment on Amazon AU → for the latest golf training aids and equipment.

A Tale of Two Nines

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. Korda's performance on the front nine was a masterclass in golf, and it demonstrated her ability to rise to the occasion and deliver under pressure. For golfers looking to improve their own short game, consider watching videos of Korda's technique and trying out some of the training aids available at Golf Clubs on Amazon AU →.

“On my front nine, I had my A-game,” Korda said. “On the back nine, I wasn’t playing bad. Just wasn’t hitting it close. And then I was cruising and then golf humbled me on the last hole. Made my first bogey I think on the weekend.” The back nine offered little to the three-time major champion in the way of scoring chances. 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 win was also defined by its near flawlessness, with Korda posting 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.

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. The win was a significant milestone in Korda's career, and it marked a major achievement in her quest to become one of the all-time greats in women's golf. Korda's record-breaking week was a testament to her hard work and dedication, and it solidified her position as one of the top golfers in the world.

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. Korda's achievement was a significant one, and it marked a major milestone in her career. The victory also pushed her record for career weeks at No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings to 109, tying five-time major champion Yani Tseng. Korda's dominance on the course was clear, and her statistics for the 2026 season were a testament to her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport.

Stats That Tell the Story

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. The statistics tell the story of a golfer who is truly exceptional, with a level of skill and dedication that sets her apart from the rest.

Korda ranks first in the LPGA Tour in strokes gained total, strokes gained tee-to-green, and strokes gained putting. Her statistics are a testament to her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport. The following statistics provide a snapshot of Korda's performance:

Strokes Gained Total
+4.23 per round
Strokes Gained Tee-To-Green
+5.14
Career Weeks at No. 1 in Rolex Rankings
109
LPGA Tour Wins
18
Korda's statistics are a testament to her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, and they provide a clear indication of her position as one of the top golfers in the world.

Awards and Accolades

Nelly Korda's victory at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba was a significant achievement, and it marked a major milestone in her career. The win was a testament to Korda's hard work and dedication, and it solidified her position as one of the top golfers in the world. Korda's achievement was recognized by the golf community, and she received widespread acclaim for her exceptional performance. The victory was also a significant one for Korda's career, as it marked her 18th LPGA Tour win and her second in as many weeks.

“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 comments were a testament to her humility and dedication to the sport, and they provided a clear indication of her commitment to her craft. The victory was a significant one for Korda, and it marked a major milestone in her career. The win was also a significant one for the golf community, as it provided a clear indication of Korda's exceptional skill and dedication to the sport. For golfers looking to improve their own game, consider checking out the latest golf training aids and equipment available at Golf Accessories on Amazon AU →.

Conclusion

Nelly Korda's victory at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba was a significant achievement, and it marked a major milestone in her career. The win was a testament to Korda's hard work and dedication, and it solidified her position as one of the top golfers in the world. Korda's achievement was recognized by the golf community, and she received widespread acclaim for her exceptional performance. The victory was also a significant one for Korda's career, as it marked her 18th LPGA Tour win and her second in as many weeks.

Korda's statistics for the 2026 season were a testament to her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, and they provided a clear indication of her position as one of the top golfers in the world. The following statistics provide a snapshot of Korda's performance, and they demonstrate her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport. Korda's victory at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba was a significant one, and it marked a major milestone in her career. The win was a testament to Korda's hard work and dedication, and it solidified her position as one of the top golfers in the world. For golfers looking to improve their own game, consider checking out the latest golf training aids and equipment available at Golf Equipment on Amazon AU →.