The 2026 US Women’s Open is set to be a historic one, as the famed Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles plays host for the first time.
As well as the iconic venue, there are plenty of big storylines to follow in LA, as World No.1 Nelly Korda arrives as tournament favorite following three wins already in 2026.
Her rivals like Jeeno Thitikul, Hyojoo Kim, Hannah Green, Lydia Ko, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are all highly fancied to contend for the title in what should be a very competitive four days.
There’s also the return of Michelle Wie West, who is making her first Major appearance since the 2023 US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.
So there are plenty of big names in action as always, including defending champion Maja Stark, but which notables are missing? Let’s take a look…
Lexi Thompson
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Lexi Thompson retired from full-time professional golf at the end of 2024 and has been playing fairly regularly since, including at last year’s US Women’s Open.
That appearance continued her remarkable streak of playing in every single one since she was 12 years old in 2007. That run is now over.
The 2014 Kraft Nabisco [now the Chevron Championship] winner has slipped outside of the world’s top 75 and was scheduled to attempt 36-hole qualifying but withdrew.
Haeran Ryu
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World No.12 Haeran Ryu is the highest-ranked golfer in the world not in the field for Riviera.
Ryu finished 2nd in her last start at the Kroger Queen City Championship but has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons.
The Korean star was the 2023 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year and now has three wins on the circuit. She is not a Major champion yet but does have five top-10s including a best US Women’s Open placing of 8th.
Georgia Hall
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Georgia Hall makes her professional golf return this week on the Ladies European Tour after having her first child.
The 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open champion misses her second consecutive US Women’s Open after playing every year from 2017-2014.
Hall is set to make her Major comeback at the AIG Women’s Open in late July at Royal Lytham and St Annes, site of her triumph eight…
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