The 81st U.S. Women’s Open takes place this Thursday through Sunday at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
Nelly Korda won the women’s first major title of the year at the Chevron Championship, but the second of five majors will be decided this week in California.
Here are four storylines to look for during this week’s 81st U.S. Women’s Open:
Riviera Country Club
Riviera Country Club is hosting the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time in the venue’s history. The course has consistently held men’s golf events since 1929, including 62 PGA Tour events, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship. It’s even scheduled to host the 2028 Olympic Golf Games.
While golf fans get to see how the men take on Riviera almost yearly, the 81st U.S. Women’s Open is a chance to see how the women attack the historic course. The par-4 10th hole is one of the most famous in the world as a drivable par 4. The par-3 sixth hole has a bunker in the middle of the green. A hill of sitting spectators surrounds the final hole, a par 4.
Nelly Korda
World No. 1 Nelly Korda has been the most dominant player on the LPGA Tour this season. She won her first tournament of the season before posting three straight second-place finishes. The streak was broken by two consecutive wins, one of which was a major championship. The wins were followed by a tied-for-eighth-place finish.
In seven events this season, she’s been outside of second place just once. It’s an incredible run. If Korda takes the second major championship of the season at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, she’ll have two more chances this season to complete the career grand slam, which means winning four of the five major championships in a career.
The Amateurs
Women’s golf is marked by many young players making their name in the professional world. Twenty four amateurs are making a start in the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open, and while Riviera is sure to be a difficult test, the competition for low amateur will be interesting.
Farah O’Keefe, 21, made her way to the U.S. Women’s Open field by winning the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Individual Championship. Asterisk Talley, 17, entered the field though U.S. Women’s Open qualifying. Maria Jose Marin, 19, won the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur to secure a spot in the field at Riviera.
First-time major winner
Golf careers are commonly defined by major championship wins. This week’s U.S. Women’s Open presents some players with a chance to get the dreaded “Best Player without a Major” title off them.
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul could secure her first major win this week at Riviera after a few close calls last season. Or Charley Hull could claim her first major title after four straight top-20 finishes at the U.S. Women’s Open leading up to 2026.
