Nelly Korda Wins Riviera Maya Open, Ties Annika Sörenstam's Record with Sixth Consecutive Top-Two Finish

Key facts

• Korda shot a final-round 69 to finish at 17-under-par 271, four strokes ahead of Arpichaya Yulibol.
• She has now won three of six starts this season and finished runner-up in the other three.
• Korda tied Annika Sörenstam's record of six consecutive tournaments with at least a runner-up finish.
• At 28, she became the youngest American since Nancy Lopez in 1980 to reach 18 career LPGA wins.
• Korda earned $375,000 from the $2.5 million purse at El Camaleón Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
• She is the first player since Celine Boutier in 2023 to win the event immediately following a major victory.
• Korda went 60 holes without a bogey before a double-bogey on the 72nd hole.
• She now has 23 of the 27 points needed for LPGA Hall of Fame qualification.

A Dominant Week Ends with a Humbling Final Hole

Nelly Korda raised her arms in triumph at the Chevron Championship a week ago, the year's first major. Seven days later, after a four-shot victory at the Riviera Maya Open, her celebration was more subdued: a brief arm stretch, a light punch of the air, and a laugh. The final hole had reminded her that golf never lets anyone off easy. Korda entered the par-5 18th with a comfortable lead, but her tee shot sailed right into the jungle. After hitting a provisional, she found a fairway bunker, then flew her next shot over the green into the patrons. A chip from the sandy area left her a lengthy bogey putt, which she calmly rolled in. “You just never know,” she told Karen Stupples afterward. “It’s golf. On the last hole here, I was humbled by golf there. I had a pretty smooth day and on the last hole just kind of like humbles you a little bit.” Despite the chaotic finish, Korda had already secured her third win of the season and second in a row. The victory extended her remarkable streak of six consecutive top-two finishes to start the year, tying the record held by Annika Sörenstam.

Back-to-Back Victories After a Major Championship

Korda’s win at the Riviera Maya Open came one week after her triumph at the Chevron Championship, making her the first player since Celine Boutier in 2023 to win the event immediately following a major. She is also the first American to achieve the feat since Meg Mallon in 2004. With 18 career LPGA wins, Korda became the youngest American since Nancy Lopez in 1980 to reach that milestone. She now has more wins this season (three) than the combined number of players who have finished ahead of her in any event (Hyo Joo Kim twice, Lauren Coughlin once). The victory was worth $375,000 from the $2.5 million purse at El Camaleón Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Korda’s final total of 17-under-par 271 placed her four strokes ahead of Thailand’s Arpichaya Yulibol, who finished second at 13-under-par 275.

A Relentless Pursuit of Improvement

Korda could have skipped the Riviera Maya Open after her major win, citing fatigue. Instead, she chose to compete, driven by an unquantifiable desire to keep improving. “Whatever I set my heart to,” she said before the tournament. “I mean, I just love competing and I love being out here competing. I’m always striving to be better and to contend in every major, every tournament.” Her pre-tournament comments reflected a philosophy that dwells on the future rather than past accomplishments. “Just because what I’ve accomplished, what’s funny with sports is that’s in the past. What you want to do is look to the future and look to improve and look to contend in the bigger events. Even if you get beat, it doesn’t matter. That’s kind of what motivates me to continuously put myself in that position.” That mindset manifested in a week where she went 60 holes without a bogey. On Sunday, she entered the final round with a three-shot lead and delivered an early haymaker: eagle-birdie-birdie on holes 5, 6, and 7 stretched her lead to seven strokes. From there, the outcome was never in doubt until the final-hole adventure.

Historic Consistency and Hall of Fame Trajectory

Korda’s six consecutive top-two finishes to start the season tie the LPGA record set by Annika Sörenstam. She has won three of those events and finished runner-up in the other three. The streak includes victories at the season opener, the Chevron Championship, and now the Riviera Maya Open. With 18 career wins, Korda has accumulated 23 of the 27 points needed to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. She is on pace to become one of the youngest inductees in the Hall’s history. Among Korean players, Soobin Cho finished in solo eighth place at 6-under-par 282, recording her second career top-10 finish since debuting on the LPGA in 2023. Minji Kang tied for ninth at 5-under-par 283, while Jinhee Lim tied for 13th at 4-under-par 284. Tour rookie Yumin Hwang finished tied for 20th at 3-under-par 285.

What Comes Next: Rest and the U.S. Women’s Open

Korda plans to take next week off to rest and absorb her latest triumph. She will then head to Cincinnati for the Kroger Queen City Championship before turning her attention to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club. Despite her dominant run, Korda remains focused on the immediate future. “I’m just happy to be competing out here healthy, motivated,” she said on Sunday. “I’m so happy on the golf course. I’m happy off the golf course. I just think that, yes, I am living my best life for sure. But golf also humbles you, so I know that I need to enjoy these moments.” The 18th hole in Mexico served as a reminder that even the world’s best player is never fully in control. Korda’s ability to laugh off the misadventure and still roll in the bogey putt underscored the resilience that has defined her season. As she prepares for the next challenge, she carries both the confidence of a champion and the humility that golf demands.

The bottom line

• Nelly Korda won the Riviera Maya Open by four strokes, her third victory of the season and second in a row after the Chevron Championship.
• She tied Annika Sörenstam’s record of six consecutive top-two finishes to start an LPGA season.
• At 28, Korda became the youngest American since Nancy Lopez (1980) to reach 18 career wins.
• She earned $375,000 and now has 23 of 27 points needed for LPGA Hall of Fame induction.
• Korda will rest next week before playing the Kroger Queen City Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.
• Despite her dominance, the final hole of the tournament reminded her that golf can humble anyone at any moment.