Let’s play a game: If you could steal the swing from any professional golfer, which golfer would you pick?

Rory McIlroy, whose combination of perfect technique and lethal speed creates a move that is half-art and half-violence, like a war painting? Scottie Scheffler, whose infinite well of athleticism and flexibility seem to find perfect positions no matter the rotation of his shoulders or the angle of his spine? How about Tommy Fleetwood, whose on-course aesthetic oozes comfortable polish? Or Adam Scott, who has been perfectly slotted for so long one wonders if he’s ever experienced a really bad slice?

Now ask yourself: How many of those players have a better swing than Nelly Korda? Is the number two? Is it one? None?

Korda’s swing is glorious. A breezy thwack that lifts the ball from the earth like James Taylor plucking a D-chord. Inspiring in its beauty, Korda’s swing is her quintessence — easy, simple, to the point, unbothered and unhurried. It exemplifies her game in part because it exemplifies her character. And it is Korda’s character that attracted the attention of another compelling figure at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open: Korda’s greatest threat.

If not for Korda, Jeeno Thitikul might be the best women’s golfer in 2026. We mean that literally — Thitikul sits second on the current Rolex Rankings, behind only Korda — but also ephemerally, because Thitikul is maybe the only player on the LPGA other than Korda whose success is measured in the absence of rounds in contention, not the existence of them.

Korda, who is 27, and Thitikul, 23, have developed a friendly rivalry atop the women’s game — trading the title of World No. 1 and no shortage of press attention over the last year. This week, at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, they’re chasing the top honor in women’s golf: a U.S. Women’s Open title.

Unlike Korda, Thitikul hasn’t yet broken through at the majors. But her journey toward improving has inspired Thitikul to keep a close eye on her rival, and on Monday afternoon at Riv, she revealed the lesson Korda has taught her: the Power of Easy.

“I think she’s always one of the players that — I don’t really [see] her practice that much during the tournament,” Thitikul said. “I just always see her on the driving range a little bit before her tee time. Then [after she was done playing], she maybe just putt a couple balls and then went home.”

To Thitikul, Korda’s approach first sounded a little backward: Try less hard. But then she realized Korda might be onto something. Some of the World No. 1’s success could be tied to her sense of balance during tournament weeks, and some of her balance came from her capacity to ease off the gas.

“I just feel like, especially this year she mentioned that she changed her mindset a little bit,” Thitikul said. “It just feels like she plays in Florida a lot, and then she [goes to events] just to play golf.”

In Thitikul’s eyes, there was something to Korda’s ability to compartmentalize, to spend tournament weeks focused on more than swing maintenance or on-course prep, that seemed to be fueling her success.

“If you put too much work and you not let your body like rest and relax, especially tournament week, I think it’s going to be a disadvantage more than an advantage,” Thitikul said. “It just really inspires me to see her doing what she’s doing right now.”

In the end, Thitikul said, there was something revealing about this approach from the World No. 1. Her success on the course was owed to her swing, but her mindset might be even more impressive.

“She’s a fast player, which is my favorite,” Thitikul said with a laugh. “It’s just great to see someone that’s good-good, and then we’re just hanging around and trying to do the same things to get better together.”

Nelly Korda quickly took control of the Chevron Championship on Friday, firing a second consecutive round of 65 to enter the weekend with a six-shot lead at Memorial Park.

But while the World No. 2 was racing out to a big lead at the year’s first major, several other big names packed up and left town on Friday after a disappointing showing.

That list starts with World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, who is still searching for her first major championship. That search will continue next month at the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club.

“The questions, you have it for every time I lose in a major for sure. Thank you for reminding every week,” Thitikul said while laughing on Tuesday about her major championship search. “Obviously, I think it’s just another challenge of my career. I know what I have [under] my belt. Right now, at this age, I think I’ve accomplished a lot, but obviously, a major is the one that I feel the first time is always the hardest. And then if I need to prove to myself that I can do that.”

Thitikul shot 74-74 over two days at Memorial Park to finish at 3 over and miss the cut by one.

Here are the big names to miss the cut in Houston:

Jeeno Thitikul

What she shot: 74-73 (+3)

Why it’s surprising: Thitikul is ranked No. 1 in the world and has already won this year in Thailand. She had never missed the cut in this event in five previous tries, although this year is the first time the championship is being held at Memorial Park.

Lydia Ko

What she shot: 72-75 (+3)

Why it’s surprising: The three-time major champion made four bogeys in a seven-hole stretch on Friday to go out in 40. She fought hard on her final nine but couldn’t find another birdie to get on the right side of the cut line.

Rose Zhang

What she shot: 73-74 (+3)

Why it’s surprising: Zhang just finished up her degree at Stanford and is transitioning back to full-time professional golf, so the missed cut in itself isn’t surprising. But given how fast Zhang’s star rose when she arrived on the tour, it’s disappointing to see her miss the cut at the year’s first major. Next up, she’ll head to U.S. Women’s Open qualifying to try and earn a spot at Riviera.

Lilia Vu

What she shot: 76-77 (+9)

Why it’s surprising: The past three Chevron Championship winners were grouped together for the first two rounds, and Korda beat Vu by 23 shots. It has been a rough stretch for Vu ever since her 2023 season, when she won two major titles. She continues to struggle off the tee.

Kiara Romero (a)

What she shot: 71-78 (+5)

Why it’s surprising: The World No. 1 amateur was near the top of the leaderboard as she got to the end of her first round. A couple of late bogeys saw her get in the house at 1 under, still very much in the championship mix. The Oregon product went out in the afternoon on Friday and hit just seven greens while also struggling with the flatstick. Romero seems primed for big things, but that won’t happen this weekend in Houston.

Chizzy Iwai

What shot: 77-74 (+7)

Why it’s surprising: Chizzy Iwai has been playing good golf. She was in contention at last week’s JM Eagle LA Championship before finishing in a tie for seventh. But she struggled on approach this week, hitting just 15 of 36 greens over two days. She’ll stick around to watch her sister, Akie, who is tied for 31st entering the weekend.

Megha Ganne (a)

What she shot: 77-78 (+11)

Why it’s surprising: Ganne won the U.S. Women’s Amateur last summer and will be on the LPGA soon. Like Romero, she’s got the game to compete and win at the top level, but struggled on approach and with the putter in Houston. The Stanford product hit just 16 of 36 greens and needed 59 putts to get through two rounds.