2026 U.S. Women's Open Round 3 Tee Times & Preview

Korda's Equipment Adjustments Pay Off

After a shaky opening-round 73 that saw World No. 1 Nelly Korda dealing with off-the-tee troubles — she even had to change her shoes mid-round — the narrative shifted dramatically on Friday at Riviera Country Club. Her four-under 67 wasn't just a bounce-back; it was the lowest round posted by anyone on Day 2 of the 2026 U.S. Women's Open.

I've watched Korda work through equipment tweaks before, and there's something telling about a player who heads straight to the range after a rough round rather than sulking in the parking lot. Whatever she dialed in — whether it was ball position, grip pressure, or simply mental reset — the results speak for themselves.

While Korda grabbed headlines with her low round, the actual 36-hole leaders are Alison Lee and Ruoning Yin, both sitting at four under par. They'll tee off in Saturday's final pairing at 5:45 p.m. ET, and Lee's comments after her round tell you everything about what Riviera demands this week.

"I feel like I did a really good job at just grinding out there, saving a lot of pars," Lee said. She cited an early scramble on the second hole — pushed drive right, punch out, then a clutch 6-footer for par from 100 yards in — as the kind of hole that "really makes you or break you for this week."

Lee's 68 featured just one bogey, which is remarkable given Riviera's reputation. The course isn't long by modern standards, but its kikuyu rough and slick greens have been punishing anyone who gets out of position.

The Contenders Behind Them

American Jennifer Kupcho sits at three under, just one shot back. Kupcho's iron play has been sharp — her approach accuracy numbers through two rounds suggest she's hitting the right clubs into these demanding greens.

Korda's two under puts her in a larger group of contenders, but with 36 holes remaining, she's absolutely within striking distance. Given her track record in majors and her clear technical adjustments between rounds, I wouldn't bet against her making a weekend push.

Notable Names Missing the Cut

Michelle Wie West's farewell U.S. Women's Open ended earlier than she'd hoped. Playing on her 10-year exemption from that memorable 2014 Pinehurst No. 2 victory, Wie West shot 75-74 to miss the cut. It's a bittersweet ending for a player who meant so much to the growth of women's golf, but the game doesn't hand out sentimental pars.

Saturday Round 3 Viewing Guide

If you're looking to catch the action, here's the broadcast breakdown:

5-7 p.m. ET: USA Network
7-10 p.m. ET: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, USWomensOpen.com, USGA App, YouTube TV, DirecTV, Xfinity

Featured group coverage will be available through multiple platforms, so you can follow the leaders throughout their rounds even before prime-time coverage kicks in.

Key Pairings to Watch

Beyond the Lee-Yin final group, a few Saturday pairings caught my eye:

1:40 p.m. ET: Charley Hull and Rose Zhang — two of the game's most exciting ball-strikers in the same group
2:25 p.m. ET: Amy Yang and Lucy Li
12:15 p.m. ET: Sakura Koiwai and amateur Asterisk Talley

The early wave features several players hovering around even par who could make a move if Riviera softens at all in the morning conditions.

Takeaway

Riviera is separating the grinders from the scorers, and right now Alison Lee's scrambling prowess has her in pole position. But Korda's Day 2 surge proves this course rewards those who can make quick technical corrections. With NBC's prime-time coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET Saturday, expect moving day to deliver some serious leaderboard drama. Keep an eye on wind conditions — afternoon gusts at Riviera can turn a comfortable round into a survival test in a hurry.