Six Australasians face US Women’s Open Challenge
The 9th hole at Riviera Country Club with the iconic clubhouse in the background – image courtesy of USGA
The famed Riviera Country Club in the suburbs of Los Angeles will, for the first time, play host to the US Women’s Open where five Australians and one New Zealander will contest the most significant title in women’s golf.
Minjee Lee, Lydia Ko, Hannah Green, Grace Kim, Stephanie Kyriacou, and amateur Sarah Hammett have all earned their way into the field of 156 for the US$12 million event, Lee, the only player amongst that group to have experienced success when she won at Pine Needles in North Carolina in 2022.
Three Australians have won four US Women’s Open Championships. Jan Stephenson won in 1983, Karrie Webb in 2000 and 2001, and Lee in 2022.
19-year-old Queenslander, Hammett, now studying at the University of Southern California, is the only debutante among the group, having earned the right to join the field courtesy of her great effort to lead the qualifiers at her final qualifying venue in Arizona.
Amateur Sarah Hammett – image USGA
Minjee Lee will make her 13th start in the Women’s US Open, with her 2022 win as the standout. There has been only one other top ten for the current world number 9, and she will need a significant improvement on her most recent form in 2026 if she is to be a contender again.
Minjee Lee – with her 2022 US Women’s Open trophy – image USGA
Lydia Ko will be making her 15th start in the event, having first played in 2012 when, as an amateur, she tied for 39th. For a player of her standing, Ko’s record at the Women’s US Open is below her normal standards, having recorded just two top tens in those 14 previous starts for a best of 3rd in 2016.
Ko has played well enough in recent weeks for her to be considered a contender but her disappointing record in the event is a concern.
Lydia Ko – during the 2024 US Women’s Open – image USGA
Hannah Green arrives at the event as Australasia’s leading world-ranked player. With four wins in seven starts, including two in Australia in 2026, the West Australian will play her 8th Women’s US Open.
Hannah Green- A winner already in Los Angeles this year – can she make it another – image LPGA
Grace Kim tees it up as Australasia’s only major championship winner over the past four years, having won the 2025 Evian Championship and will play her 4th US Open with a best of 13th at her second start in 2023. Kim has made all but one of her eight cuts in 2026 but she has just the one top ten when 10th at the Women’s Australian Open.
Grace Kim – already a winner of a major – image LPGA
Sydney’s Stephanie Kyriacou is the final member of the Australasian group. Kyriacou will play her third US Women’s Open, but having missed the cut in her previous two and with seven consecutive missed cuts entering the event, it will be a significant effort for her to just make the weekend.
Stephanie Kyriacou – struggling with her game this year – image PGA of America
Working in favour of the group however is the Australian feel to the outstanding, traditional golfing layout, where so many Australians have done well in PGA Tour events over the years.
Adam Scott (twice), Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley and Steve Elkington (1995 PGA Championship) have all won events around the original George Thomas Jr designed (1926) layout.
Footnote – Queensland’s Karis Davidson has now been added to the field courtesy of Celine Boutier’s win at the weekend, opening up the one spot left for a potential non-exempt winner gaining a start. Davidson had finished as an alternate at her final qualifying venue in April and plays in her first start in a US Women’s Open
