The 2026 U.S. Women's Open is underway at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, marking the first time the championship is held at this prestigious venue [1, 2]. Riviera, known for its long association with the PGA Tour and celebrity visitors, is hosting a USGA women's championship for the first time [1, 2].
Top LPGA players are competing for the $12.5 million purse, an increase of $500,000 from 2025 and more than double the amount five years ago [2]. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, a three-time major champion, remains a favorite though she has yet to capture the U.S. Women's Open title [1].
Female participation in golf has surged 45% since 2019, now making up 28% of all golfers—a historic high [2]. Alison Lee highlighted the growing visibility of women's golf, urging fans in Los Angeles to attend: "I don't think women's golf gets appreciated as much as it should... They can come out here and watch."
Michelle Wie West, a former U.S. Women's Open champion, made a rare visit to Riviera but confirmed she has no plans to return to competitive play. She said, "I think the more we can have venues like Riviera, I think the more it elevates the women's game" and reflected on her recent solo practice sessions there as "really therapeutic" [2].
Riviera also holds a historic place in golf as the site where Babe Didrikson Zaharias became the first and only woman to make the weekend cut at a PGA Tour event during the 1945 L.A. Open [1].
The championship began on August 24, 2026, at Riviera, spotlighting women's golf at one of the sport's most famous courses [2].
