The momentum continues for both Hyo Joo Kim and Nelly Korda. New week, new event, new course – but some of the best in the world continued to show why they are exactly that Thursday at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass.

Kim, who won last week at the Fortinet Founders Cup by one over Korda, shot a tremendous 11-under 61. Korda, to her credit, was also firmly in the mix after a 9-under 63.

Neither were leading, however, as Lydia Ko shot her career low on the LPGA Tour, a 12-under 60. It was the eighth time in LPGA Tour history a round of 60 had been recorded.

Kim had a solid opening nine holes, making three birdies in a row on Nos. 12-14 after starting on the back nine. After making the turn she turned on the jets, however. Kim made four birdies in a row on holes Nos. 1-4 and then went birdie-eagle-birdie to close things out – including a hole-out on the par-4 8th.

Kim is the defending champion of the Ford Championship after winning in a playoff a year ago. In 2025 she shot 22 under and won in a playoff over Lilia Vu. Her start has her score already at half that through just 18 holes.

“I’m so glad because I was able to start with a low score for a tournament I’m defending at. I think I was able to take the good momentum from last week,” Kim said.

Chasing Kim, the defending champ, is another past champ at this event (albeit at a different course) with Korda having won the inaugural Ford Championship in 2024 at Seville Golf and Country Club.

Korda, who staged a furious comeback last week at the Founders Cup but fell short of Kim after a late bogey was her undoing – a missed par putt from just a couple feet on the penultimate hole. Still, Korda has a trophy and a second-place finish to her credit already this season and is back near the top of the board early in Arizona.

Korda had a clean card Thursday. She also started on the back nine, going 5 under for her first stretch including a hole out for an eagle on the par-4 18th. She birdied No. 1 and added three more before putting a bow on her day.

“Just hit it good. Capitalized on the par-5s if I had a shorter club in. Overall, it was a very solid day,” Korda said.

Korda, whose sister Jessica is also in the field – teeing it up together for the first time since May 2023 – said she has tried to manage her way around a golf course where she couldn’t hit driver off the tee. She was solid Thursday, missing just two fairways, so her strategy worked well enough in the opener even though she has to play a “little bit more conservative” than her normal aggressive play like she normally does.

“(I) just try to place myself in the right spots. Sometimes these fairways get baked out. Same with the greens. So closer doesn't always mean that it's good, just because then you have a tricky pitch shot in where you can't get too much spin on it and get it to stop so you try to lay back a little bit,” Korda said. “Also, there are some holes where it kind of necks in a little bit too much so you're trying to play for more of a percentage play where you still have a club in your hand that you can capitalize on and get it close.”

Low scores will need to continue to be paramount over the coming days but given how Korda has started her 2026 campaign, she’s got a great strategy to continue her early success. After going winless last year – somewhat incredibly – she said her attitude is the thing that she’s focused on keeping steady through 2026.

“You know, when I hit a bad shot, I try not to get too fazed by it and try to find it and hit it again,” Korda said. “Just trying to have a really good attitude this year.”

So far, a good attitude has led to some good results.

And Korda – and Kim – are looking for more over the next three days at the Ford Championship.

Chasing Pack at the Ford Championship Includes a Pair of Past Champions in Hyo Joo Kim and Nelly Korda

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