In what is becoming routine (again), Nelly Korda holds a big lead heading into the final round of an LPGA event. This time, it’s the 2026 Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, where Korda has reached 14 under through three rounds.
That’s good enough for a three-shot lead over her nearest challenger, Arpichaya Yubol.
Korda’s latest LPGA blitz comes just one week after her last. At the 2026 Chevron Championship, the first LPGA major of the year, Korda put together a five-stroke victory for her second Chevron title and third career major win.
The victory also saw Korda retake the No. 1 position in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Nelly Korda with 3-shot lead: ‘You’re never going to have your A-game’
This week, Korda has gone 68-67-67 over the first three rounds at El Camaleon Golf Course to build her advantage.
Despite her dominant performance so far, Korda surprisingly admitted she didn’t have her “A-game” this week in her press conference Saturday evening.
“I feel good. I love competing,” Korda said. “You’re never going to have your A-game.”
She elaborated on her point, explaining that even the greatest players have to find a way to win when their games aren’t in perfect shape.
“A lot of players, if you talk to them in the past, a common question, or I think a question a lot of people should ask is like, did you win with your A-game? Did you win your B-game or your C-game?” Korda said. “I’ve talked to guys, I’ve talked to girls, and rarely have they ever said, I won with my A-game that week. It’s all about just grinding it out and being confident in knowing that you know, you’re going to make mistakes, but not to emphasize them too much and to quickly try and bounce back.”
And Korda has certainly done that this season. Her Chevron title was her second of the year, following her first at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Though that victory was given to her when the tournament was called after 54 holes.
In all three of her other starts this season, Korda has finished runner-up. That record through five starts (1-2-2-T2-1) is mind-bendingly good. But Korda has not been immune to a late swoon when 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 doomed her chances at victory. At the 2026 Ford Championship, she watched her 36-hole lead vanish, resulting in another runner-up. She shot a 75 on Sunday at the Aramco Championship to finish T2.
Korda, however, is confident in her chances on Sunday in Mexico. As she said after her third round, she knows she will make mistakes, but experience has taught her how to expect, and overcome, them.
“Experience. Just not knowing that it’s not the 18th hole, I don’t need to press just to be smart. Also, I have a great caddie that does his homework, that walks the golf course, that’s how the greens are reactive, that you just kind of try to avoid the mistakes as much as possible,” Korda said on Saturday. “You’re gonna hit a bad shot here and there and you’re gonna find yourself in trouble, but trying to kind of stay away from the holes that kind of lead you to trouble. I think it’s the goal and be aggressive on a par-5 that you hit a good tee shot. It’s all about placement out here because it is a really hard golf course.”
