In what is becoming a tradition (again), Nelly Korda leads the way in the final round of an LPGA event. This time, it’s the 2026 Riviera Maya Open in Mayakoba, where Korda has reached 14 under in three rounds.
That’s good enough for a three-point lead over his nearest rival, Arpichaya Yubol.
Korda’s latest LPGA blitz comes one week after his last. At the 2026 Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the year, Korda compiled a five-stroke victory for his second Chevron title and the third major win of his career.
The victory also saw Korda reclaim the No. 1 spot. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Nelly Korda’s three-shot lead: ‘You’re not going to have your A-game’
This week, Korda went 68-67-67 in the first three rounds at El Camaleon Golf Course to build his advantage.
Despite his excellent performance thus far, Korda surprisingly admitted that he doesn’t have his “A game” this week at his press conference on Saturday evening.
“I feel good. I love to compete,” said Korda. “You’ll never have your A game.”
He expands on his point, explaining that even great players must find a way to win if their games are not in the right shape.
“A lot of players, when you talk to them in the past, a common question, or I think the question a lot of people should be asking is, did you win your A game? Did you win your B game or your C game?” Korda said. “I’ve talked to the guys, I’ve talked to the girls, and rarely do they say, I won with my A game that week. It’s all about grinding it out and being confident knowing you’re going to make mistakes, but not stressing about them and trying to quickly bounce back.”
And Korda has done that this season. His Chevron title was his second of the year, following his first at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Although that victory was given to him when the tournament was called after 54 holes.
In all three this season, Korda finished second. That record with five starts (1-2-2-T2-1) is a good one mentally. But Korda hasn’t been immune to late bouts in contention this year.
At the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup, Korda was tied for the lead with eight holes to play when a late three-putt cost him the chance to win. At the 2026 Ford Championship, he watched his 36-hole lead disappear, resulting in a runner-up finish. He shot a 75 on Sunday at the Aramco Championship to finish T2.
Korda, however, is confident about his chances on Sunday in Mexico. As he said after his third round, he knows he will make mistakes, but experience has taught him how to expect them, and overcome them.
“Experience. Just not knowing that it’s not the 18th hole, I don’t need to push to be smart. Also, I have a good caddy who does his homework, who walks the golf course, that’s how the green works, that he just tries to avoid mistakes as much as possible,” said Korda on Saturday. “You’re going to hit a bad shot here and there and you’re going to get in trouble, but you try to stay away from the holes that get you in trouble. I think the goal is to be aggressive on the par-5s when you hit a good shot. It’s about placement out there because it’s a really tough golf course.”
