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At Chevron, Lauren Coughlin is in lead and Nelly Korda is right behind.

Lauren Coughlin surged into an early lead at the Chevron Championship with an impressive bogey-free round of 6-under 66 on Thursday. However, the formidable World No. 1 Nelly Korda, fresh off four consecutive LPGA victories, is close behind after the opening round of the first women’s major of the year in The Woodlands, Texas.

Korda, who has been on a winning streak, finished the day with a 4-under 68, sharing second place with Marina Alex and Japan’s Minami Katsu.

While Korda shines on the leaderboard, attention is also on Coughlin, a 31-year-old ranked 94th in the world. Despite having only three top-10 finishes in her LPGA career, Coughlin expressed her dedication to continual improvement and enjoyment of the game.

With her husband as her caddie for the week, Coughlin started strongly with back-to-back birdies and maintained her momentum throughout the round.

When asked about her main competition for the tournament, Coughlin acknowledged Korda’s formidable presence.

Korda, despite an initial bogey, showcased her skill with a series of birdies, capitalising on her strength off the tee.

Looking for her second major title, Korda emphasised the importance of adapting to the course’s conditions. The tournament, previously held in California, is now in its second year at The Club at Carlton Woods.

Marina Alex also demonstrated her confidence with a strong finish, while a group including Lydia Ko and Gabriela Ruffels sits tied for fifth place at 3-under 69.