Nelly Korda Explains Why She Jumped Into the Temporary Pond at Chevron Championship

After winning her third major, Nelly Korda wasn’t shy of keeping the Chevron’s tradition alive. Just as Amy Alcott did decades ago, Korda jumped into a small pool.

“So refreshing. Yeah, it was so hot this weekend in Houston. I got to do it with the addition of Jess this year, compared to 2024 when Jess wasn’t in Houston. And, yeah, I mean, if I’m hoisting the trophy, then I’m jumping in,” said the 27-year-old on Sunday during the press conference post her win.

With no water guarding the 18th green at Memorial Park, tournament organizers installed a temporary plunge pool beside the closing hole for the week. 

“I’m going to keep the tradition alive. Everyone is going to have their own opinion. My opinion is if you kill a tradition, it’s going to be gone forever,” said the three-time major winner.

The jump traces back to 1988, when Amy Alcott stepped into the water after her win at Mission Hills and turned the celebration into part of Chevron’s finish. That carried through the tournament’s move to Houston, even as the course changed. 

Memorial Park had no lake beside the 18th, so this year’s setup filled that gap for one edition while work remains scheduled to add a permanent water feature at the hole before the 2027 championship.

“They’re making the effort to want to continue the legacy of the jump, and there is a lot of effort from Chevron, from Glenn, Mike Wirth, to want this tradition to move on,” added Korda.

Korda’s celebratory splash followed a week of clinical golf where she maintained control over the field for four rounds.

Korda Returns To Number One In the Rankings

Korda closed the week at 18-under 270, and left Houston with the Chevron Championship title, the third major of her career, and the No. 1 spot in the women’s world rankings.