THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Old tournament, new site. That’s the story surrounding the 2023 Chevron Championship, which opened Thursday at The Club at Carlton Woods near Houston.
Last year marked the final playing at the iconic Mission Hills in California, an event that was captured by Jennifer Kupcho, the 20th-ranked player in the world.
Several players in this year’s field, including Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, discussed the new venue and how it differs from Mission Hills, noting that the 6,824-yard track has a big feel to it.
CHEVRON: Leaderboard | Photos | Merchandise
Here’s a look at live updates from the LPGA’s first major of the year, now drenched in Texas flavor:
Nelly Korda heating up near turn, pulls to within two
The soft conditions at The Club at Carlton Woods might have taken Nelly Korda a bit to get comfortable with, but she certainly seems to have found her groove, knocking down birdies on No. 6, 8 and 9 to get to 2 under for the day and 6 under for the tournament.
On No. 9, right in front of the media center, Korda drained a long birdie putt to pull within two of leader Lilia Vu.
Bang! 💥
Three birdies in four holes@NellyKorda is T2 at the @Chevron_Golf
Watch now on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/4QUsHUwUtq
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 21, 2023
Local HBCU Prairie View A&M streaming live from the Chevron Championship
Just behind the ninth green at the Chevron Championship sits an impressive structure named the Inspiration Dome, half of which houses a VR experience sponsored by Accenture that taps into the life of an LPGA pro. In the other half of the dome is a state-of-the-art studio being used by the students at Prairie View A&M, an HBCU that sits less than an hour west of The Club at Carlton Woods.
According to Teresa Dowell-Vest, the director of the school’s film and TV production, the partnership with Accenture and Chevron gives students a unique opportunity.
“We have some avid golf supporters at Prairie View, not only of our women’s golf program but also just parents who love to get out on the green to play and inspire our young people to play,” she said. “So a couple of alumni, and some other avid golfers said, ‘hey, there’s something really dynamic happening at Prairie View in the television studio, perhaps we can do something at this particular event since it’s local. And long story short, five months of working with Chevron with working with Accenture and really putting together a great core of our students to come and broadcast here in the inspiration and here we are.
“I think the great thing for our students is two-fold: One, it puts them in a professional setting. I see the LPGA no different than the NFL or the NBA and to be in a space where professional athletics are meeting with media, this is a great learning experience for them. And two, it’s just a lot of fun. How fun is it? So, this is a great opportunity for them to learn professional decorum, professional execution of media.”
Shot of the day?
Let’s go to the par-4 sixth hole and catch up with Gemma Dryburgh.
After sizing up her second shot from the fairway, the 29-year-old from Scotland holed out for an eagle.
.@gemmadryburgh really did just do that! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/zmWcyYrEXx
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 21, 2023
If you noticed her plain white hat, it’s because Dryburgh is seeking a sponsor for her headwear.
She’s not the only golfer at the Chevron this week seeking a logoed lid. Brittany Lincicome is also in the same spot.
Watch: First-round extended highlights
Snakes and gators, oh my! When it comes to jumping at Carlton Woods, beware
The sun is out and after a delay, the second round of the LPGA’s first major is underway.
With the event moving from the California desert to Texas, many have wondered if one of the few traditions in the women’s game would carry on at The Club at Carlton Woods. The pond that’s next to the 18th green at the Nicklaus Course is anything but pool water. It’s murky and natural, a stark contrast to the pristine waters at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.
Nelly Korda said she’d jump if she wins. Defending champion Jennifer Kupcho, however, wasn’t so sure.
“I think there might be snakes in the water here,” said Kupcho, “so might be a little interesting.”
Stephen Salzman, the club’s general manager and chief operating officer, said the pond is now safe for players. He said the club’s engineering team and director of agronomy went through a number of possible scenarios in the months leading up to the championship. The club originally intended to dredge the entire area to deepen the pond. The Nicklaus design team, however, was afraid the green could potentially slough, so they changed course.
“We ended up building a dock,” said Salzman. “We ended up dredging from the end of the dock to about the rock wall border there. At the end of the dock, it’s 5 feet and progresses down to close to 10 feet.”
They sent divers down to check for rocks and concrete blocks beneath the surface. And for peace of mind, they installed a gator net to protect the area.
When asked if the net kept out snakes, Salzman said, no, but that snakes aren’t super prevalent in this pond. Neither are gators, but one can’t be too safe.
Second-round tee times delayed two hours
Update: The golf course received over 2” of rain and course conditions are still very wet. Due to the high volume of rain, tee times are now delayed a total of two hours.
The first starting time of the @Chevron_Golf second round will be 9:15 a.m. local time. @LPGA
— LPGA Media (@LPGAMedia) April 21, 2023
First round complete, weather could be dicey on Friday
A fun first day at the 2023 Chevron Championship has Peiyun Chien in the lead and Nelly Korda close behind.
A band of thunderstorms is rolling through the Houston area on Thursday night, and the worst of the weather will continue until around 2 a.m., meaning the Nicklaus Course at The Club at Carlton Woods should be soft for Friday’s second round, if it’s playable.
Although the forecast calls for a little rain in the morning it should ease up through the day.
The first round of the @Chevron_Golf has wrapped up✅@pyc_money takes the solo lead, followed by a 6-way tie for 2nd!
FULL LEADERBOARD⬇️ https://t.co/yfcdnU1dRo
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 21, 2023
Nelly Korda within one of the lead
Nelly Korda waved in a long putt on the fifth hole – her 14th of the day – for a second straight birdie. That got her to 3 under, just a shot off the lead of Peiyun Chien.
Another one 💥@NellyKorda is within ✌️ of the lead
Watch now on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/rvF9vqlv1s
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 20, 2023
On a rainy Thursday at the Nicklaus Course at The Club at Carlton Woods, Korda birdied all four par 5s in Round 1, pulling within one stroke of leader Peiyun Chien. Back-to-back birdies on her last two holes included a small, controlled 50-degree wedge to 1 foot to close out an opening 4-under 68.
“Overall, I played pretty well,” she said. “It was nice to finish the way I did with just a tap-in birdie, but made a couple mistakes here and there where it was more of the yardage where I was a little too aggressive and I left myself a little short-sided chip, and with the rain that we got during the delay, I wasn’t sure how it was going to react, bump-and-running it or flopping it.”
Chien, Alex, Yin lead as play resumes
With play about to resume after weather issues, here’s how the leaderboard shakes out.
Here's where we stand at @Chevron_Golf heading back into play: https://t.co/FYdHS0LL70 pic.twitter.com/etRZm232aL
— Golfweek (@golfweek) April 20, 2023
Distractions always seem to coincide with this week
An important new chapter began in the women’s game at this week’s Chevron Championship, where 51 years of Dinah desert history transferred over to Texas. Those who follow the LPGA closely have long noticed that Tiger Woods announcements coincidentally frequently happen in the middle of important weeks on the LPGA calendar.
Get caught up on the first round – and the off-course distractions – from Thursday’s first round.
Weather halts first round at 3:38 p.m.
As expected, the nasty stuff finally found its way to Houston and the first round was halted.
First-round play was suspended at the @Chevron_Golf at 3:38 p.m. due to dangerous conditions. @LPGA
— LPGA Media (@LPGAMedia) April 20, 2023
Deer (not real streakers) running on 18th hole
The Woodlands, as the name might imply, is heavy on trees and the 18th hole of Carlton Woods is a perfect area for wildlife to run free.
Our Beth Ann Nichols has seen plenty of deer running on the course, but LPGA communications director Christina Lance got quite a rise out of the on-site security team when she pointed the herd out.
I was standing with our security team when I saw them and told them we had streakers running down the fairway. They were temporarily very unhappy with me. 😊
— Christina Lance (@christinalance) April 20, 2023
TV coverage rolls through the evening
The first LPGA major of the year is getting some major TV time this week on the NBC networks, including the Golf Channel. Here’s a complete look. (All times listed are ET)
- Thursday, April 20 – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)
- Friday, April 21 – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)
- Saturday, April 22 – 2-3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-4 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock), 4-6 p.m. (NBC, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)
- Sunday, April 23 – 2-3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-4 p.m. (Golf Channel, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock), 4-6 p.m. (NBC, golfchannel.com. NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App and Peacock)
Meet Eila Galitsky, the 10th grader near the top of the leaderboard
Ah, to be 16 and near the top of the leaderboard at a major.
Eila Galitsky, the 10th grader just two shots off the lead at the Chevron, says Natthakrita Vongtaveelap has been a big help to her. The two came off at almost the same time today. Galitsky carded a 2-under 70 and was just a pair of shots off the lead. Vongtaveelap countered with a 73.
When you’re 16 and on the board at a major, people want to talk to you! pic.twitter.com/yq8PQInI3s
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 20, 2023
When asked about the conversation with Vongtaveelap, who is only 20, Galitsky laughed.
“She said she almost tripled a hole and I’m like, that’s too bad. Better luck next time.”
Thailand’s Galitsky played her way into the year’s first major with her victory last month at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific. The 16-year-old, who holds dual nationality of Thailand and Canada, won by five in Singapore with three birdies over the last four holes.
Here’s a look at all of the amateurs playing in this week’s event.
A cowboy hat for Texan Jin Young Ko? Not just yet
Jin Young Ko is getting comfortable with Texas, as she’s a member at Trinity Forest Golf Club near Dallas, and she lives in Frisco, which is the home of the new PGA of America headquarters.
With the thick bermuda rough offering quite the challenge to the world’s best players, don’t be surprised if the South Korean finds herself in the thick of things come Sunday. She was listed as one of the favorites before the event started.
But does that mean she’s ready to go full Texan, donning a cowboy hat? Not according to a brief exchange in her pre-tournament interview. She also mentioned she’s ready to carry on a tradition of jumping into a pond if she wins.
Q: Since you’re living in Texas, I understand players are getting cowboy hats this week. Did you get one?
JYK: No.
Q. Do you want one?
JYK: I have boots. I don’t need hat.
Q. Would you jump if you win?
JYK: I’m ready, 100 percent.
Lydia is lurking
Lydia Ko is lurking near the top of the leaderboard.
Bang! 💥
Lydia Ko with some short game magic
She's one off the lead at the @Chevron_Golf pic.twitter.com/sBQSwsIBj2
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 20, 2023
Gusty winds, severe hail possible
Although action got underway on Thursday as planned, severe weather could be sweeping through the area soon, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusty winds and severe hail is in the forecast for the region. The forecast is a little better on Friday, although scattered thunderstorms are still part of the forecast.
On Saturday, the skies should clear, but on Sunday more rain could roll in.
Gusty winds and severe hail possible across much of SE Texas this afternoon. Stay weather aware and be sure to have multiple ways of receiving warnings (cell phone, weather radio, local media, etc). #TXwx #HOUwx #GLSwx #BCSwx https://t.co/28Ei88SfS0
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) April 20, 2023
