Nelly Korda’s scheduling likely played a key role in her run to the crown at last weekend's Chevron Championship in Houston, where she pulled away early and cruised to her third major title.
Korda opted to skip last week’s event in L.A. to get in earlier and avoid an awkward Sunday redeye. Instead, she played an early 18 on Monday and got her first look at Memorial Park before storms interrupted practice the next two days. She was refreshed after a two-week break.
But while Korda's victory in the Memorial Park debut of the LPGA major was significant, there were also victories for the circuit, which saw more robust galleries and easier access to the course than at the Club at Carlton Woods, which hosted the event for the previous three years.
A few parting thoughts …Overall, the crowds were better here than The Woodlands. Feel like it could be substantially better with more marketing in the area and cross-promotion with the PGA Tour’s Houston Open (perhaps sell combo tickets for both events?).The course was… pic.twitter.com/P0xXEDyYsl
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 27, 2026
And not only were there more people at the major, but there were also younger people on site, which was a bonus.
Crowd here in Houston definitely seems younger than the typical LPGA fan base. Quite a few ANWA logos too. pic.twitter.com/rv8EKsCx8s
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 25, 2026
Also, there was skepticism about the temporary plunge pool to the right of the 18th green, which Korda dove in with her team.
As soon as play wrapped up at this year’s Texas Children’s Houston Open on March 29, work began on digging the pool, which was 15 feet by 10 feet and 4 1/2 feet deep. The cost of the new temporary addition: roughly $60,000.
Nelly Korda cannonballs into the plunge pool with the fam! That’s now three majors for the American star. She’s now five points from the LPGA Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/j4zZF4TmUI
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 26, 2026
The event was an unmitigated success, and there are bigger plans for the future.
The jump today turned out really well … better than I expected! Here’s a photo rendering of what the permanent pond will look like on the 18th in 2027. The one at Mission Hills was named Poppie’s Pond after longtime tournament director Terry Wilcox. Would love to see the… pic.twitter.com/oZhB79LAvc
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 27, 2026
Big purse news this week at Chevron, but there are lots of other perks. Every player in the field gets the use of a Cadillac courtesy car. All past champions have the option to drive a Bentley and stay for free at the Post Oak Hotel, the only Forbes Five-Star Hotel and Spa in… pic.twitter.com/d14d2d93jk
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 23, 2026
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nelly Korda jump, younger crowds among successes at 2026 Chevron