American golfer Nelly Korda faced a challenging start at the 2026 LPGA Amundi Evian Championship, shooting a 3-over 74 in the opening round on July 9 at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. The world No. 1 began her round well, playing the first eight holes at 1-under par after teeing off on the back nine. However, her momentum faltered with a bogey on the 18th hole, followed by a double bogey on the first hole of the front nine. Additional bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes contributed to her score, leaving her tied for 102nd place on the leaderboard.

Korda, who is pursuing her third major title of the season, reflected on the round, saying, “I’ve hit some really good shots and ended up in some really bad places and hit some bad places and ended up in good places. What I learned every year is patience is key out here. I’m still figuring it out.” Her difficulties at Evian continue a trend, as the tournament has been less favorable for her compared to other majors. She finished 43rd at the Evian last year and had top-10 finishes in 2022 and 2023.

Leading the tournament after day one is Japan’s Aki Iwai, who carded an 8-under par, putting her well ahead of the field. South Korean golfer Haeran Ryu, the reigning Women’s PGA Championship winner, is positioned tied for third at 5-under par following the first round.

Korda has already captured the first two major titles of the 2026 season, including the Women’s PGA Championship, where she finished tied for eighth. The Evian Championship marks the third major within six weeks, presenting a demanding stretch for the players. Historically, only two women—American Babe Zaharias in 1950 and Inbee Park of South Korea in 2013—have secured three major titles in a single season. Korda’s chances of joining this elite group have diminished after her opening round setback.