The Chevron Championship, the first major of the 2025 LPGA season, is off to a turbulent start. World No. 1 Nelly Korda is back to defend her crown, headlining a star-studded Chevron Championship lineup that’s stacked with talent. She’ll be joined by 2023 champ Lilia Vu, always-dangerous Lydia Ko (who last lifted the trophy in 2016), and the ever-consistent Jin Young Ko, who claimed the title in 2019. With this powerhouse crew teeing it up, sparks are bound to fly at Carlton Woods!

But now, the event has already been hit by torrential rain and course closures, putting the spotlight not on golf swings but on storm clouds. Charley Hull summed it up best in a brief but telling Instagram story: “Major week means major weather.” The English star captured video of heavy downpours flooding the grounds and the harsh wind blowing umbrellas over, showcasing the soggy, windy reality facing players and fans.

Unlike last year’s edition, where Brooke Henderson got the chance to surge up the leaderboard before a brief weather delay, this year’s Chevron Championship has been soaked from the start, with torrential rain shutting down the course entirely before the first round could even tee off. As practice rounds were halted and tents shuttered, golf writer Beth Ann Nichols confirmed the seriousness of the situation with a tweet, accompanied with the weather update, that read, “Course is closed. Media tent is closed.”

It’s an inauspicious start for a tournament that moved to Texas in 2023, trading California sunshine for springtime volatility. While officials keep an eye on the radar and revised tee times loom, players like Hull are left to wait—and hope—for a break in the storm. For now, the Chevron Championship’s opening scenes are less about chasing major titles and more about weathering the elements. Even the Chevron Championship’s official Instagram account got in on the action, posting a story that first showed torrential rain whipping across the course—and then, just 30 minutes later, a clear blue sky and pristine fairways. The caption? “what a difference 30minutes makes! welcome to houston.” That about sums it up.

Despite the rocky start, Thursday’s opening round of the 2025 Chevron Championship is set to tee off at 7:15 a.m. under mostly cloudy skies, with a chance of early storms and highs near 86°F. The weekend looks drier and calmer. Defending champ Nelly Korda begins her run at 8:32 a.m. alongside Lilia Vu and 2021 winner Patty Tavatanakit, while Charley Hull tees off from the 10th with Linn Grant and Stacy Lewis. With marquee pairings and improving weather, the stage is set for a thrilling battle for the season’s first major.

Chevron Championship 2025: Top contenders, power rankings, and more to watch

The LPGA Tour’s first major of the season is finally here, and it’s bringing both high drama and high stakes. With an $8 million purse and 132 of the world’s best players in the field, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown. But unlike 2024, when Nelly Korda stormed into The Woodlands off a four-win heater, no single player has dominated the early season. That wide-open dynamic makes this year’s tournament all the more unpredictable and exciting.

At the top of the power rankings is Nelly Korda, the defending champion and former World No. 1, looking to rediscover her winning form after a mixed start to the season. Just behind her in the spotlight is Jeeno Thitikul, the Thai phenom who’s still searching for her first major win despite a rock-solid resume of top-5 finishes. Angel Yin, who narrowly missed out in 2023, returns to The Woodlands with renewed momentum after a big win earlier this year, while Lilia Vu, the 2023 champ, continues her comeback campaign following a tough injury layoff. Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee—both major champions—are in strong form and hungry for more, while Charley Hull and Lauren Coughlin bring depth, grit, and something to prove. Don’t overlook rising star A Lim Kim or rookie Ingrid Lindblad either. Kim’s early-season win has put her firmly in the conversation, and Lindblad’s breakout victory at the JM Eagle LA Championship has sent expectations soaring.

With a wide-open field and no clear dominant force heading into the week, the 2025 Chevron Championship is shaping up to be a thrilling, unpredictable ride. These 10 names are the ones to watch as the LPGA’s finest battle it out for major glory deep in the heart of Texas.