The Chevron Championship 2025 Tips: Five picks for major glory

After a typically stop-start introduction to the 2025 LPGA season, the action really ramps up now as the women begin their major season this week.

They come thick and fast over what will be a whirlwind three-and-a-bit months, finishing in Wales at Royal Porthcawl for the Women’s Open in August. Whilst we’ll also experience the thrills of Erin Hills (US Women’s Open), PGA Frisco (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) and the Evian Resort (Evian Championship) in between.

However, as is tradition, we start with the Chevron Championship, which will be held at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas for the third straight year. Where world #1 Nelly Korda looks to become only the second player to successfully defend this major championship.

Star golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with five outright selections for glory ranging from 25/1 to 125/1, as well as a Top 10 pick. Here are his The Chevron Championship 2025 Tips...

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The Chevron Championship was first staged in 1972 as a regular LPGA event, before being upgraded to a major in 1983. It was played at the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club in California from that inaugural edition right through to 2022, though moved to its current home in 2023.

Three players have won this event more than any other, with the winner of the first major championship edition, Amy Alcott (1983, 1988, 1991) joined by Annika Sorenstam (2001, 2002, 2005) and Betsy King (1987, 1990, 1997) on three wins apiece.

In addition, there have been four two-time winners, in the shape of Juli Inkster (1984, 1989), Dottie Pepper (1992, 1999), Karrie Webb (2000, 2006) and Brittany Lincicome (2009, 2015).

Last five winners:

• 2024 – Winner: Nelly Korda (-13)

Runner-up: Maja Stark (-11)

• 2023 – Winner: Lilia Vu (-10, playoff)

Runner-up: Angel Yin (-10)

• 2022 – Winner: Jennifer Kupcho (-14)

Runner-up: Jessica Korda (-12)

• 2021 – Winner: Patty Tavatanakit (-18)

Runner-up: Lydia Ko (-16)

• 2020 – Winner: Mirim Lee (-15, playoff)

Runners-up: Brooke Henderson, Nelly Korda (-15)

Nelly Korda won the fifth title of her incredible seven-win season here last year, claiming an overdue second major title after breaking through back in 2021 at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. She is of course back to defend this week.

THE COURSE

The Signature layout at Carlton Woods was designed by Jack Nicklaus in 2001. His design team returned to renovate this attractive venue after the 2023 edition of the tournament, when among other changes they installed new greens, levelled the tee boxes and upgraded bunkers, with several enlarged and others created anew.

The event has showcased the longest course on tour in the previous two seasons and that is likely to again be the case in 2025, with this par 72 lengthened further to a formidable 6911yds. It possesses 4x par 3s (160-175yds), 10x par 4s (386-445yds) and 4x par 5s (509-552yds). That length no doubt plays a part in the challenging nature of this event in the last two years.

This predominantly flat parkland course is framed by an imposing and densely-populated selection of trees, whilst numerous water features come into play on nine holes.

The manicured fairways are generous but well-guarded by strategic bunkering and players need to be smart in where they position the ball off the tee, to create the best angle of attack into the greens and avoid line-of-sight problems due to the trees. Together with the bermudagrass rough said to be more lush this year, it should prove a demanding test of driving.

The predominantly elevated bermudagrass greens are large, heavily sloped and will be setup to play at 12-12.5 on the stimp this week if the weather allows. With many placed at an angle to the fairway and narrow/shallow in shape, they have proven difficult to hit and possessing some challenging pin positions, to which players will often be asked to flirt with run-off areas and large, penal greenside bunkers to access, precise iron play is a must.

The Nicklaus Signature Course has an exciting finish, during which water comes into play on three of the final four holes.

It's particularly striking on the 392yd par 4 15^th, as a creek sits to the left of the fairway and crosses back into a pond that guards the front of the putting surface. Although it disappears on the 421yd par 4 16^th, it returns on our final par 3 – the 161yd 17^th – protecting the shallow green and it also features prominently on the final hole.

The Chevron Championship closes out with the 524yd par 5 18^th. While the fairway here is one of the widest on the course, it is pinched on both sides by a pond to the left and a large bunker on the right. That same pond sits towards the front of the shallow, elevated green, giving us a true risk/reward hole that has the potential to provide us with a thrilling conclusion to the first women's major of the season.

THE WEATHER

This event has endured stormy, wet weather in each of the previous two editions and that again appears to be the case this week, with humid conditions developing into thunderstorms and some heavy rainfall from Tuesday to Friday. Turning an already long course into even more of a slog.

That is predicted to disperse for the weekend's play, when the storms look set to be replaced by gusty 31mph winds, suggesting that another challenging edition of the Chevron Championship is on the cards.

KEY STATS

• SG: Off-the-Tee/Driving Distance

Quality ball striking is a must here and with the length of this course, it's no surprise that strong and lengthy driving has been key.

Nelly Korda has ranked no worse than 4^th off-the-tee in the season-long rankings in each of the last five seasons and she used her power with the driver to guide her to success in 2024, ranking 5^th. Runner-up, Maja Stark ranked 14^th OTT whilst third-place finishers, Brooke Henderson and Lauren Coughlin ranked 2^nd and 15^th respectively.

With players such as the aforementioned Korda, Henderson and Stark, alongside fellow top-10 finishers: Haeran Ryu, Carlota Ciganda, A Lim Kim and Yealimi Noh, the top of the leaderboard was littered with lengthier drivers.

The driver was even more important in 2023, as eventual winner Lilia Vu ranked 4^th. Runner-up, Angel Yin ranked 1^st, Nelly Korda in 3^rd ranked 5^th and 4^th-place finisher, A Lim Kim ranked 2^nd. Again, the majority of those at the top were long.

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation

As a Jack Nicklaus design that should have some soft greens this week, it stands to reason that iron play will be an important factor.

Nelly Korda ranked 18^th in approach and 2^nd in greens-in-regulation when winning last year; Lauren Coughlin in 3^rd ranked 21^st in approach and 16^th in GIR; fellow 3^rd-place finisher, Brooke Henderson was 6^th in approach and 10^th in GIR; whilst in 5^th, Haeran Ryu ranked 1^st in approach and 3^rd in GIR.

In 2023, Lilia Vu ranked 5^th in GIR and 7^th in approach on her way to claiming the title. Of her nearest challengers, only one of the top eight ranked outside the top 25 in approach and six of those were top 20 in GIR.

• SG: Putting (bermudagrass)

The greens are the toughest aspect of the Nicklaus Signature Course and with that, we've seen the putter also featured heavily in the stats of the main contenders.

Indeed, it was the main club that drove Maja Stark to her runner-up finish last year, ranking 2^nd. Winner, Nelly Korda ranked 11^th and 3^rd-place finishers, Lauren Coughlin and Brooke Henderson ranked 4^th and 10^th respectively.

It was an extra area in which our 2023 winner, Lilia Vu excelled, ranking 7^th. None of the top eight that year ranked outside the top 25.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

HSBC Women's World Championship (Sentosa Golf Club – Tanjong Course)

Sentosa Golf Club's Tanjong Course is one of the lengthiest venues on the regular tour, with the par 72 measuring 6779yds this year. It has large, sloping bermudagrass greens which are typically set up to play firm and fast; strategic bunkering protects the fairways and there is plenty of water in-play.

Furthermore, the conditions there are not dissimilar to the humid, stormy weather that awaits players this week.

Notable correlating form:

Nelly Korda:

Chevron (1^st, 3^rd) / HSBC (2^nd, 2^nd)

Brooke Henderson:

Chevron (3^rd) / HSBC (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th)

Jeeno Thitikul:

Chevron (4^th, 12^th) / HSBC (2^nd, 4^th)

Allisen Corpuz:

Chevron (4^th) / HSBC (3^rd)

A Lim Kim:

Chevron (4^th, 9^th) / HSBC (7^th, 9^th)

Honda LPGA Thailand (Siam Country Club – Old Course)

We're going to stay in that part of the world with another event which often mirrors the conditions that are predicted this week, the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club's Old Course.

This flat, tree-lined course has generous fairways – which have often enabled the big-hitters to perform well– and fast bermudagrass greens.

Notable correlating form:

Lilia Vu:

Chevron (1^st) / Honda LPGA (1^st)

Angel Yin:

Chevron (2^nd) / Honda LPGA (1^st, 3^rd)

Maja Stark:

Chevron (2^nd) / Honda LPGA (4^th)

Brooke Henderson:

Chevron (3^rd) / Honda LPGA (4^th)

Amy Yang:

Chevron (4^th) / Honda LPGA (1^st, 1^st, 1^st)

Jeeno Thitikul:

Chevron (4^th, 12^th) / Honda LPGA (2^nd, 3^rd, 3^rd)

Albane Valenzuela:

Chevron (4^th) / Honda LPGA (2^nd)

Carlota Ciganda:

Chevron (6^th, 12^th) / Honda LPGA (3^rd)

CME Group Tour Championship (Tiburon Golf Club – Gold Course)

As with most courses in Florida, Tiburon Golf Club's Gold Course is flat and tree-lined. It's also increased in length in recent years, and possessing wide fairways, large, elevated bermudagrass greens and lots of water in-play, it compares closely to this week's venue.

Notable correlating form:

Nelly Korda:

Chevron (1^st, 3^rd) / Tour Championship (2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, 5^th)

Lilia Vu:

Chevron (1^st) / Tour Championship (4^th)

Angel Yin:

Chevron (2^nd) / Tour Championship (2^nd)

Brooke Henderson:

Chevron (3^rd) / Tour Championship (5^th, 7^th, 7^th)

Jeeno Thitikul:

Chevron (4^th, 12^th) / Tour Championship (1^st, 5^th)

Amy Yang:

Chevron (4^th) / Tour Championship (1^st)

Carlota Ciganda:

Chevron (6^th, 12^th) / Tour Championship (2^nd, 5^th)

The ANNIKA (Pelican Golf Club)

Although it is much shorter than Carlton Woods' Nicklaus Signature course, Pelican Golf Club has plenty else in common with out host venue.

Again, as we're in Florida, the course is flat, and tree-lined; with generous, strategically bunkered fairways, large bermudagrass greens and water in-play on around half of the holes.

Notable correlating form:

Nelly Korda:

Chevron (1^st, 3^rd) / ANNIKA (1^st, 1^st, 1^st)

Lilia Vu:

Chevron (1^st) / ANNIKA (1^st)

Allisen Corpuz:

Chevron (4^th) / ANNIKA (3^rd)

Amy Yang:

Chevron (4^th) / ANNIKA (4^th)

Brooke Henderson:

Chevron (3^rd) / ANNIKA (5^th, 6^th)

2023 LPGA Drive on Championship (Superstition Mountain G&CC – Prospector Course)

Finally, although it only hosted one edition of the LPGA Drive on Championship back in 2023 – which means comp form isn't abundant – Superstition Mountain's Prospector Course is another Jack Nicklaus design with wide, flat fairways and large, sloping bermudagrass-based greens.

THE FIELD

Our first major of the season features 42 of the world's top 50, which includes each of the top 20. Nelly Korda is still the world #1, followed by Jeeno Thitikul at #2 and Lydia Ko at #3; meanwhile, #22 Rose Zhang is the most high-profile absentee, missing the event due to a neck injury.

Nelly is the defending champion and one of 11 former winners in the field, joined by Lilia Vu (2023), Jennifer Kupcho (2022), Patty Tavatanakit (2021), Jin Young Ko (2019), Pernilla Lindberg (2018), Lydia Ko (2016), Brittany Lincicome (2015, 2009), Lexi Thompson (2014), Stacy Lewis (2011) and Yani Tseng (2010).

Among this year's debutants are now two-time LPGA winner Rio Takeda; last week's LA Championship winner and former #1 amateur Ingrid Lindblad; and fellow LPGA rookies, Ina Yoon from Korea and Chisato Iwai of Japan.

As is tradition the event also welcomes a high-class group of amateurs, which this year includes the top-ranked amateur in the world, Lottie Woad; recent winner of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Carla Bernat Escuder; and returning after finishing an impressive 13^th in this event last year is current #3 amateur, Jasmine Koo.

The Chevron Championship Odds

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders: Jeeno Thitikul 8/1, Nelly Korda 8/1, Lydia Ko 14/1, Nasa Hatoka 22/1, 8 players at 25/1

There's some notable separation at the top of the betting this week, with Jeeno Thitikul and Nelly Korda joint favourites at 8/1, and Lydia Ko a clear third-favourite at 14s.

It's surely only a matter of time before Thitikul breaks through in the majors but she's yet to even record a top three, and at 8/1 I'm happy to leave her alone. With Nelly not quite in the same form as last year and Lydia failing to impress on two visits here, I'm happy to search for value elsewhere.

This is an event in which six of the last seven winners were first-time major champions, therefore I'm going to take a chance on a trio of players to reconvene that trend after Korda's win last year.

However, up first is a woman who did taste major success back in 2020, A Lim Kim. Playing the best golf of her career since the end of last year and possessing an excellent record here, I'm taking her to become a two-time major winner in this week.

2 pts A Lim Kim each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 25/1

Kim started last season poorly, recording just one top 10 – which happened to come here – over her first 18 starts. She did finish the season strongly, winning the LOTTE Championship in her third-last start and has carried that form over into 2025, winning the Tournament of Champions in her first event of the season and has finished no worse than 17^th in her five following starts.

She's been superb off-the-tee, ranking 4^th and is one of the longest, ranking inside the top 20 in driving distance. Her iron game has also offered encouragement, ranking top 40 in approach and greens-in-regulation, and gaining strokes with the putter, with which she's largely looked good on bermudagrass, her game looks in an excellent place for this challenge.

Kim finished 4^th on her debut at this course in 2023 and followed with a 9^th-place finish in 2024; never shooting an over-par round. Having won the US Women's Open in 2020 just 25-miles south of here at Champions Golf Club in Houston on her first ever major appearance, this is clearly a part of the world in which she feels at ease, and she can lean on that to earn a second major victory in Texas.

1.5 pts Rio Takeda each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 30/1

Rio Takeda has rather incredibly won in two of her nine non-major starts on the LPGA. I’m taking the classy Japanese rookie to overcome her lack of experience at Carlton Woods to add a major breakthrough to those victories this week.

It took Takeda a few years to find her feet in the pro ranks at home in Japan after turning pro in 2021, but she made up for it and then some last year, recording seven victories on the JLPGA. She then stepped that form up a level, winning the TOTO Japan Classic – an event co-sanctioned between the LPGA and its Japanese counterpart – earning her a step up to the LPGA in 2025.

Her rookie season started well, recording two top 10s in her first three starts, which came in the Tournament of Champions and the Honda LPGA Thailand. She then showed that her win in the TOTO was no fluke, as she routed the field four starts ago to win the Blue Bay LPGA by six strokes and after following that with two missed cuts, it was pleasing to see her bounce back to finish 11^th last week.

She’s immediately established herself as one of the very best tee-to-green players on tour, ranking 3^rd so far this season. The irons have looked especially strong, ranking 5^th in GIR and 7^th in approach; whilst she’s also a strong off-the-tee, combing power and accuracy to rank 24^th.

Takeda made the cut in three of her four major appearances last season, going best when 9^th in the US Women’s Open. Making her debut at this course this week is a small negative, but she has the game to take to the venue and as we’ve seen with her two swift victories on tour, she has the undoubted class to be a leading player in these biggest events.

1.5 pts Akie Iwai each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 33/1

Akie Iwai is another of an extremely exciting group of Japanese players to begin their LPGA journeys this year. She’s made an excellent start to this season and having gone well on debut in this event in 2024, this strong ball striker has a likeable profile for this week.

The six-time JLPGA winner earned her LPGA card via Q-School and has wasted little time showing she belongs here. After missing the cut at the Founders Cup on her first start, Iwai has since played three events on the tour and recorded two runner-up finishes, the first of which came in the Honda LPGA Thailand and the next last week in California, when we were on her in the L.A Championship.

She ranks as the fourth-best ball striker on tour, especially excelling with her irons, ranking 5^th in approach and 11^th in GIR. Rankings of 16^th OTT and 14^th in driving distance add extra encouragement and looking good on the bermudagrass surfaces in Thailand, she ticks every box.

Iwai has only made seven major appearances in her career thus far, but has made the cut in the last six, including finishing 30^th here last year. Finishes of 7^th in the Women’s Open and 10^th in the Evian Championship are another indication of her ability to perform at this level and sounding frustrated yet determined after her narrow defeat last week, she may just put that mindset to good use in Texas.

1.25 pts Yealimi Noh each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 40/1

The hugely talented Yealimi Noh finally made her LPGA breakthrough earlier this year; the culmination of a fine run of form stretching back to 2024. Currently hitting the ball better than anyone, she can following that up quickly with a major championship breakthrough at a course where she recorded a top-10 finish last year.

Noh had been showing positive signs at the start of 2024, but her form really picked up during and following a 15^th-place finish in the FM Championship in September. She hasn’t missed a cut since, recording 11 top 20s in her last 14 starts and among her six top 10s over that time, she earned that first LPGA victory in the Founders Cup. Impressively beating Jin Young Ko by four shots.

Ranking 1^st in approach and 9^th OTT, she’s been the best ball striker on tour this season. She also ranks 4^th in GIR and as a length hitter who has put up some very good displays on bermudagrass greens of late, I can find little in the way of negatives.

Noh’s 9^th-place finish here last year was only her second major top 10 after finishing 3^rd in the 2021 Evian Championship. That was a result predominantly aided by a superb ball-striking display and looking better on the greens this year, and in ownership of a new-found level of confidence, she can improve on that this week.

0.75 pts Amy Yang each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 125/1

Amy Yang belied poor form to win a first major title in last year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. In better shape than that as we approach our first one of 2025, this former 4^th-place finisher at Carlton Woods looks a big price to be in the mix this week.

Yang had missed four of her previous seven cuts and recorded just one top 30 prior to that major success in 2024. However, she maintained a solid level of form thereafter, finishing 4^th at the Olympics and the signs have been positive at the start of this year, recording three top-25 finishes in her first five starts.

She’s looked solid enough throughout the bag but has been at her best with the irons, ranking top 50 in approach and GIR. Though not as long as previous years, she still has enough power to contend here and having recorded four of her six LPGA victories on bermudagrass, we can be confident in her ability to putt these greens.

Yang fired an excellent 65 on her way to a 4^th-place finish in the 2023 Chevron Championship and although not as positive last year, her 46^th-place finish was decent enough. She’s a three-time winner of the Honda LPGA Thailand and also adding a win in the CME Group Tour Championship to her C.V two seasons ago, her comp form strengthens her case.

1 pt Weiwei Zhang (Top 10) @ 20/1

Weiwei Zhang’s excellent driving ability helped her to a 13^th-place finish in this event on debut last year. Having recorded her best ever LPGA finish in a comp event at the end of last year, I’m taking her threaten the top of the leaderboard this week.

Zhang enjoyed one of the most consistent year’s of her career last year, missing just three cuts in her 20 starts. The undoubted highlight came when she finished 2^nd in The ANNIKA in the second-last event of the year and although struggling for consistency so far in 2025, there have been promising results, such as finishing 27^th in the Saudi Ladies International and 33^rd in the Ford Championship.

She ranked 17^th OTT last year and is driving the ball to a similar level this season, ranking 18^th. Possessing tonnes of power, ranking 5^th in driving distance, she has the arsenal to handle this extended layout.

Zhang ranked top 25 OTT and on the greens on the way to that 13^th-place finish last year and although a win – for which she can be backed at a whopping and somewhat tempting 400/1 – may be beyond her, she certainly has enough in her favour to far outperform her odds.

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