'Major Queen' Korda Returns to World No. 1 Ranking

Nelly Korda (United States) has reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking.

On April 27 (local time), Korda received 11.65 points in the weekly Women's Golf World Rankings, moving up from second place last week to the top spot. Korda earned ranking points by winning the Chevron Championship, the first major tournament of the 2026 season on the LPGA Tour.

She claimed a wire-to-wire victory, leading the tournament from start to finish over four days. This marked her second win of the season, following her victory at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. With this result, she now holds 17 career wins, including three major titles. The winner's prize was 1.35 million dollars (approximately 2 billion won).

Nelly Korda cheers after securing victory at the Chevron Championship. Houston=AP Yonhap News Photo

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With this victory, Korda also regained the world No. 1 position, reclaiming the title she had lost to Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) in August of last year. Since first reaching world No. 1 after winning the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in 2021, Korda has battled for the top spot with players such as Ko Jin-young, Lydia Ko (New Zealand), and Lilia Vu (United States).

Thitikul has now dropped to second place with 9.99 ranking points. Kim Hyo-joo, Charley Hull (England), Hannah Green (Australia), Miyu Yamashita (Japan), and Minjee Lee (Australia) maintained third through seventh positions, respectively.

Among Korean players, Kim Sei-young is ranked 11th, Yoo Hae-ran is 13th, Choi Hye-jin is 17th, Kim A-lim is 30th, Im Jin-hee is 32nd, and Hwang Yu-min is 34th. Yoon Ina, who tied for fourth at the Chevron Championship, rose 14 spots from 53rd last week to 39th. Lee Ye-won, who won the KLPGA Tour's Deoksin EPC Championship, climbed to 52nd place.

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