Riviera Awakens: Inside the 2026 U.S. Women's Open First Round Draw
There are mornings when you arrive at a golf course and the air itself feels different. The light hits the grass at angles that seem chosen rather than accidental. The silence before the first tee shot holds the weight of what's to come. Thursday morning at Riviera Country Club will be one of those mornings.
A Cathedral for Championship Golf
Riviera needs no introduction to those who love this game, yet hosting the U.S. Women's Open adds another dimension to its storied character. The barranca that bisects the sixth hole, the famous kikuyu rough that grabs at everything, the eucalyptus trees standing sentinel along the property—all of it will test the finest players women's golf has produced.
I've walked Riviera's fairways perhaps a dozen times over the years, and each visit reveals something new. The way the morning marine layer from the Pacific settles into the canyon, softening the outlines of the Santa Monica Mountains. The particular crunch of footsteps on those iconic bunker faces. This week, 156 players will experience that magic under the most demanding circumstances imaginable.
The Marquee Groups
The USGA has crafted Thursday's tee times with the drama this championship deserves. The headline pairing sends Nelly Korda off at 10:29 a.m. ET alongside Hyo Joo Kim and Hannah Green—a grouping that combines Korda's current dominance with two proven major champions.
Korda arrives at Riviera in the midst of something we may tell our grandchildren about. In seven starts this season, she hasn't finished outside the top eight. Three victories. Three runner-up finishes. A third major title claimed at the Chevron Championship in April. She currently sits atop the world rankings, having reclaimed that position through sheer force of brilliance.
What she seeks now is the one major that has eluded her—the U.S. Women's Open—and with it, the chance to keep her Grand Slam hopes alive.
The Afternoon Wave
The afternoon pairings carry their own electricity. At 4:03 p.m. ET, Charley Hull and Jeeno Thitikul join Patty Tavatanakit in a group where every player is searching for that elusive first major championship. Hull's ball-striking prowess could thrive on Riviera's demanding second shots; Thitikul's short game wizardry will be essential around these small, sloped greens.
Lydia Ko tees off at 4:14 p.m. ET with Mao Saigo and Lauren Coughlin. Ko, already a two-time major champion and Olympic gold medalist, represents the possibility of late-career renaissance. Watching her navigate Riviera's strategic demands will be a masterclass in course management.
Perhaps the most emotionally charged group goes off at 4:36 p.m. ET: Michelle Wie West, Hinako Shibuno, and Yani Tseng. Three players who have known both the highest peaks and the deepest valleys this sport offers, walking together through the California afternoon light.
How to Watch
Coverage begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network, continuing until 7 p.m. ET before streaming shifts to Peacock through 10 p.m. ET. Featured group coverage will be available throughout the day via USWomensOpen.com, Peacock, the USGA app, YouTube TV, DirecTV, and Xfinity.
The Week Ahead
The U.S. Women's Open has always been our national championship in the truest sense—the most demanding test, the deepest fields, the courses that separate good from great. Riviera amplifies all of this. The narrow corridors. The firm conditions. The requirement that every shot be shaped with intention.
By Sunday evening, someone will lift that trophy against the backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains, and the game will have another chapter written in permanent ink.
Takeaway
This is appointment viewing for anyone who cares about golf at its highest level. Nelly Korda's pursuit of history, the loaded afternoon groups, and Riviera's unforgiving beauty combine to create a championship that demands our attention. Set your alarms, clear your schedule, and prepare to witness something special unfolding in the Los Angeles canyon.