THE WOODLANDS, TX – April 24, 2025 – The Chevron Championship, the first major of the 2025 LPGA season, took a devastating turn today as Nelly Korda, the world’s No. 1 golfer, suffered a shocking wrist injury mid-round at The Club at Carlton Woods. The defending champion, who was chasing a sixth major title, was forced to withdraw after battling through excruciating pain, leaving her dreams of another Chevron victory—and her season—in tatters. As Ayaka Furue seized the lead with a 5-under 67, Korda’s heartbreaking exit has sent shockwaves through the golf world.

A Dream Turns to Nightmare

Korda, 26, began her opening round at 9:32 a.m. ET alongside Lilia Vu and Patty Tavatanakit, aiming to reclaim the form that made her a five-time consecutive winner in 2024. She started solidly, parring the first nine holes, but disaster struck on the par-4 12th. After a wayward approach shot landed in the water, Korda clutched her left wrist in agony, her face etched with pain. She struggled to finish the hole, carding a double bogey, and limped through two more holes before withdrawing on the 14th green, her wrist heavily braced and her season in jeopardy.

Golf Channel cameras captured Korda’s tearful exit as she was escorted off the course by medical staff. “I’ve never seen Nelly like this,” analyst Judy Rankin said. “She’s a fighter, but that wrist looked bad.” Korda was later photographed in a hospital bed, her arm in a cast, a thermal blanket draped over her, and an IV line in place—a stark contrast to her usual commanding presence on the fairways. Fans on X were gutted, with one posting, “Nelly in a hospital bed? My heart can’t take this.” Another wrote, “Her Chevron dreams are over. What a tragedy.”

The Injury’s Devastating Impact

Sources reveal Korda’s injury occurred on the 11th hole during a bunker shot, where she felt a “pop” in her left wrist. “She tried to play through it, but the pain was unbearable,” an LPGA official told Golf Digest. Medical staff diagnosed a severe sprain with possible ligament damage, requiring immediate immobilization. Korda was rushed to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, where doctors reportedly warned that rushing recovery could risk permanent damage, potentially sidelining her for the rest of 2025.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Korda, who battled a back injury in 2024, had been open about the physical toll of her record-breaking run last year. “My body’s been through a lot,” she told Golf Monthly in March. Now, with her wrist in a cast and her season hanging in the balance, insiders fear this could mark a turning point in her career. “Nelly’s devastated,” her caddie, Jamie Mulligan, said. “She wanted this major so badly.”

The Field Moves On

Korda’s withdrawal has blown the Chevron Championship wide open. Japan’s Ayaka Furue leads at 5-under with a bogey-free 67, followed by Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul at 4-under and Lydia Ko at 3-under. Amateur Carla Bernat Escuder, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion, sits at 1-under, while Australia’s Hannah Green is at 2-under, chasing her first Chevron title. “I’m just focusing on my game,” Furue said, unaware of Korda’s exit during her round.

Lexi Thompson, who made an emotional return after her 2024 retirement scare, shot an even-par 72 and expressed sympathy for Korda. “It’s awful to see Nelly go down like this,” Thompson said. “She’s the heart of the LPGA.” Betting odds have shifted, with Thitikul now the favorite at 17/2 (bet365), while Korda’s withdrawal has crushed her 10/1 chances.

A Heartbroken Golf Community

The LPGA is reeling. Fans on X are flooding Korda’s posts with support. “Get well soon, Nelly! You’re still our champ,” one user wrote. Another lamented, “Her major dreams shattered like that? Golf’s cruel.” Players have rallied around her, with Vu saying, “Nelly’s the toughest I know. She’ll be back.” Ko added, “Injuries are the worst. I’m praying for her.”

The Chevron Championship continues through Sunday, with a $8 million purse on the line, broadcast live on Golf Channel, NBC, and ESPN+ (9 a.m.–7:30 p.m. ET). But the spotlight remains on Korda’s hospital bed, where she faces an uncertain future. The LPGA’s 75th anniversary season, meant to celebrate its stars, now carries a somber note as its biggest name fights to return.

What’s Next for Korda?

As Korda begins her recovery, questions loom. Will she miss the rest of the 2025 majors, including the U.S. Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open? Could this injury force a longer hiatus, as her 2024 back issue did? For now, her focus is on healing, but the image of her in a hospital gown, wrist in a cast, has left fans heartbroken. Her Chevron dreams may be shattered, but Korda’s resilience is legendary—will she rise again?