The world of women’s golf is buzzing as the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open tees off at the storied Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. For the first time in the championship’s 81-year history, Riviera—a course dripping with Hollywood lore and PGA Tour tradition—hosts the game’s biggest names as they chase the most coveted trophy in women’s golf. The anticipation is palpable, and all eyes are on World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who’s riding a wave of dominance and determined to rewrite her Open story.
Korda’s journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary. Just a year ago, she came heartbreakingly close to her first U.S. Women’s Open title, finishing second to Maja Stark at Erin Hills. That near-miss, as Korda herself admits, left a mark. “I was just hungry for more,” Korda reflected. “Last year was just a weird year of kind of not necessarily playing my best, but also when I did, not getting the bounces or just missing by a centimeter here and there. But I also learned a lot about myself. It made me hungrier to be in those positions.”
Hungry is an understatement. In 2026, Korda has been on a tear, winning three times—including a dominant performance at the Chevron Championship, her third major—and finishing runner-up three times in just seven starts. She’s only finished outside the top two once all season. The numbers are staggering, and the pressure is immense, but Korda is embracing the spotlight. “I’m just motivated to put myself into that position, to grind on off weeks, to just play the game,” she said. “There’s nothing better when you’re a very competitive person than being in the hunt on a back nine at a tournament.”
That competitive fire is fueling Korda’s quest not just for her first U.S. Open crown, but also for a rare single-season Grand Slam. With her Chevron win already in the bag, Riviera marks the second leg—and the stakes couldn’t be higher. She’s the undisputed betting favorite at +400, according to BetMGM, and the face of a new era in the LPGA, whether she wants to admit it or not. “She’s by far the most popular figure in the game and right now, she’s the winningest too,” one observer noted this week. Yet, history is not entirely on her side: only two World No. 1s—Inbee Park in 2013 and Annika Sorenstam in 2006—have won the U.S. Women’s Open in the last 20 years.
Parity has been the name of the game in women’s golf of late. Last season, the LPGA saw 29 different winners and no repeat champions in the first 24 events. But 2026 has been a different story, with Korda’s dominance making her the focal point of every conversation. Still, the U.S. Women’s Open is notorious for surprises. Over the past decade, the average world ranking of the champion was 30, and last year’s winner, Maja Stark, was ranked 33rd when she hoisted the trophy. Only three of the last 17 major winners were ranked in the top 10 at the time of their victory, a stark contrast to the men’s game where top-ranked players often prevail.
Stark herself returns this week, trophy in hand—at least until she handed it back at Riviera’s opening ceremonies. The Swede’s victory last year was a breakthrough, but the months that followed were a struggle. “I did kind of want to let it go, because it’s weird—it’s like I had it sitting in my room, and I just saw it every day,” Stark admitted. “But I just want to move on. I want the challenge again.” Now ranked 23rd in the world after making seven cuts in eight starts this season, Stark is focusing on the mental side of her game, having hired a therapist and a sports psychologist. She’s eager to prove her win was no fluke and to embrace the challenge of defending her title on a course as storied as Riviera.
The field is packed with compelling storylines. Jeeno Thitikul, who began the year at No. 1, remains one of the most consistent players on tour but is still searching for her first major. Since turning pro in 2022, Thitikul has racked up 59 top-10 finishes and nine wins, but majors have proven elusive. “I think up-and-down are the biggest challenges for me [at majors] because I know I hit lots of greens when I was young and I’m not really chipping,” Thitikul said this week. “I just talk to my coach what we have to do different, but in a major he’s just like, we don’t have to do anything different because like when you change your routine, that’s when you change your mindset.”
New faces are making their mark as well. Megha Ganne and Catherine Park are both making their professional debuts at Riviera. Ganne, who led Stanford to another NCAA title just last week, knows the transition won’t be easy. “Being a professional is about the little stuff, and the stuff you can’t really see, like invisible little details,” Ganne said. “That stuff comes with experience, time, maturity and having a good team around you.” Park, a local star from Irvine, brings plenty of home-state pride to her debut.
There’s also a touch of nostalgia as Michelle Wie West comes out of retirement for one last shot at major glory. The 2014 U.S. Open champion is using her final year of exemption, with her husband Jonnie West on the bag and her six-year-old daughter Makenna cheering from the gallery. “Last time I retired at Pebble Beach, Makenna was 2 and doesn’t really have any memories,” Wie West said. “Hopefully being 6 now, she’ll have a lot more memories of being here this week.”
The course itself is a star. Riviera’s firm, fast conditions and ocean breezes promise to test every facet of the players’ games. “Every day is going to be different. I know the wind switches here kind of from morning to afternoon based off it coming from the water,” Korda remarked. “Every day is going to be a different game plan.” Michelle Wie West added, “It’s truly a second-shot golf course. It’s really cool that fans will be able to watch us play and kind of maybe compare notes to how we play against the guys.”
Veterans like Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, and Hannah Green—each with major wins to their name—are also in the hunt, while up-and-comers like Miyu Yamashita, Ruoning Yin, and Lottie Woad bring fresh energy and ambition. The blend of experience and youth, the unpredictable nature of the Open, and the grandeur of Riviera all combine for a week that promises drama at every turn.
Round 1 action began Thursday morning, with tee times stretching from 9:45 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. ET across two starting tees. Fans can catch the action live on USA Network from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET, with exclusive streaming on Peacock from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Featured group coverage is also available on USWomensOpen.com, the USGA App, YouTube TV, DirecTV, and Xfinity.
As the first round unfolds, the leaderboard remains fluid, and the world’s best are just getting started on one of golf’s grandest stages. With history, legacy, and a record prize pool on the line, the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera is shaping up to be a classic in every sense of the word.