Nelly Korda regained the world No. 1 ranking in women’s golf in 2026 after a dominant start to the season that included three wins and three runner-up finishes in her first six events [1, 2]. Her biggest victory this year came at the Chevron Championship, the first major tournament of the season [1, 2]. Korda took two weeks off after tying for eighth at the Kroger Queen City Championship, her worst finish so far in 2026 [1, 2].
Korda’s return to the top comes after a difficult 2025, when she did not win a tournament despite often being in contention. In 2024, she won seven times, including the Chevron Championship [1, 2]. Reflecting on last year, Korda said, "Last year was just a weird year of kind of not necessarily playing my best, but also when I did, not getting the bounces or just missing by a centimeter here and there" [2]. Nonetheless, she added, "But I also learned a lot about myself. It made me hungrier to be in those positions" and "That I was just hungry for more" [1, 2].
Her disciplined routine includes a six-day workweek focused on early wake-ups, practice, workouts, and physio treatments [1, 2]. She said, "I’m just motivated to put myself into that position, to grind on off weeks, to just play the game" and described competing as "no better rush of emotions than being in the hunt" [1, 2].
Korda’s resurgence dethroned Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, whom she took over as world No. 1 earlier this year [1, 2]. Last year, at the US Women’s Open at Erin Hills, Wisconsin, she tied for second, marking her best finish at the championship to date [1, 2].
Korda’s next major opportunity to defend her ranking will come as the 2026 season continues, building on her current streak of top finishes.