2026 U.S. Women's Open: Friday Tee Times and Strategy for Riviera
“`
Alright, so the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open is in full swing. We’re at Riviera, a proper test. Friday’s the day. Round 2. This is where things get serious. The cut is looming, and some players are gonna be packing their bags while others are gearing up for the weekend. You gotta know who’s playing when, and frankly, what the hell they’re thinking out there.Nelly Korda, right? World No. 1. Came in with all the hype, looking to snag another major. But Riviera ain’t playing nice. She had a rough go in the first round. Two-over 73. Not ideal. Especially when you’re aiming for another major trophy. She’ll need to dig deep today. Make up some ground. At the very least, shoot a solid round to see Saturday. No one wants to miss the cut at a U.S. Women’s Open. That’s just embarrassing.Her second round tee time is 4:14 p.m. ET. She’s playing with Hyo Joo Kim and Hannah Green again. Same group as day one. So, they know each other’s games. They know the pressure. Korda’s got a lot on her plate. She started strong on the back nine, birdied 11. Then, bam, back-to-back bogeys. Classic Riviera. She clawed it back to even with a birdie on the par-5 1st, but two more bogeys on the front nine sealed her fate for the day. She’s gotta find that magic again.
The Riviera Challenge: More Than Just a Golf Course
Riviera. It’s a classic. Designed by George Thomas. It’s got teeth. It’s not about bombing it as far as you can. It’s about precision. Course management. Knowing when to attack and when to play it safe. The greens are notoriously tricky. Bunkers are everywhere. And the poa annua greens can be absolute beasts, especially when they’re firm and fast.For players like Korda, who had a bit of a stumble, today is about damage control and then building momentum. She needs to avoid those costly mistakes. The kind that can derail a whole tournament. You see it happen all the time. One bad stretch, and you’re fighting just to make the cut instead of fighting for the win.The TV coverage is pretty decent too. You can catch the second round from 2-7 p.m. ET on USA. Then, it streams on Peacock from 7-10 p.m. ET. If you want to follow specific groups, they’ve got featured coverage on USWomensOpen.com, Peacock, the USGA app, YouTube TV, and DirecTV. So, you’ve got no excuse not to watch.
Friday Tee Times: Who's Up and When?
Let’s break down who’s teeing off and when. This is crucial for anyone trying to follow their favorites, or just get a feel for the flow of the day. We’ve got tee times starting bright and early at 9:45 a.m. ET from both the first and tenth tees.
Tee No. 1 – Morning Wave
Starting off at 9:45 a.m. ET on Hole 1, we have Anna Nordqvist, Ashleigh Buhai, and Jiyai Shin. Solid group. Experienced players. They’ll set the tone for the early starters.Then, at 9:56 a.m., it’s Minsol Kim, Lilia Vu, and Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Vu is always a threat. Keep an eye on her.10:07 a.m. brings Yuka Saso, Jeongeun Lee6, and Kiara Romero (a). Romero, being an amateur, always adds a bit of intrigue. Can she hang with the pros?10:18 a.m.: Aphrodite Deng (a), Rose Zhang, and Yealimi Noh. Zhang’s another amateur with serious game. She’s been making waves.10:29 a.m.: Jenny Bae, Pajaree Anannarukarn, and Yuna Araki. A good mix of talent here.The morning continues with groups like Jinhee Im, Casandra Alexander, and Ai Suzuki at 10:40 a.m.Somi Lee, Mimi Rhodes, and Fuka Suga at 10:51 a.m.Minami Katsu, Anna Huang, and Peiyun Chien at 11:02 a.m.Paula Reto, Veronika Kedronova (a), and Gina Kim at 11:13 a.m.Minji Kang, Liqi Zeng, and Zoe Cusack (a) at 11:24 a.m.Katelyn Kong (a), Amiyu Ozeki, and Jaravee Boonchant at 11:35 a.m.Addie Dobson (a), Natsumi Hayakawa, and Sofia Rivera (a) at 11:46 a.m.And closing out the morning wave on Hole 1 at 11:57 a.m. are Kaleiya Romero, Jie-En Lin (a), and Kaylyn Noh.
Tee No. 1 – Afternoon Wave
The afternoon session kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET. Catherine Park, Lucy Li, and Asterisk Talley (a) are up first.Then, 3:41 p.m.: Alison Lee, Paula Martin Sampedro (a), and Jasmine Suwannapura. Lee’s a strong player.3:52 p.m.: Maja Stark, Megha Ganne, and Miyu Yamashita. Yamashita can be a real force.4:03 p.m.: Minjee Lee, Lottie Woad, and Nasa Hataoka. Minjee Lee is always a contender.And here it is, the group we’ve been talking about: Nelly Korda, Hyo Joo Kim, and Hannah Green tee off at 4:14 p.m. ET. Korda needs a big one.4:25 p.m.: Angel Yin, Gaby Lopez, and Ruoning Yin. Yin’s got the power.4:36 p.m.: Sei Young Kim, Linn Grant, and Andrea Lee. Kim is a major winner.4:47 p.m.: Jin Young Ko, Ayaka Furue, and Grace Kim. Ko is another player who can absolutely dominate.5:09 p.m.: Brittany Lang, Danielle Kang, and Sung Hyun Park. Two major champions in that group.The afternoon wraps up with Yuri Yoshida, Paula Francisco (a), and Nataliya Guseva at 5:20 p.m.Nellie Ong (a), DaYeon Lee, and Shiho Kuwaki at 5:31 p.m.And finally, Pauline del Rosario, Napat Lertsadwattana, and Athena Singh (a) at 5:42 p.m.
Tee No. 10 – Morning Wave
Over on the tenth tee, the action starts at 9:45 a.m. ET with A Lim Kim, Yui Kawamoto, and Megan Khang.9:56 a.m.: Ariya Jutanugarn, Allisen Corpuz, and In Gee Chun. Allisen Corpuz had a great run last year.10:07 a.m.: Carlota Ciganda, Aki Iwai, and Jennifer Kupcho. Kupcho is always dangerous.10:18 a.m.: Charley Hull, Jeeno Thitikul, and Patty Tavatanakit. This is a group of power players.10:29 a.m.: Lydia Ko, Mao Saigo, and Lauren Coughlin. Lydia Ko is a former world No. 1. Don’t count her out.10:40 a.m.: Brooke Henderson, Celine Boutier, and Rio Takeda. Henderson’s a major champion.10:51 a.m.: Michelle Wie West, Hinako Shibuno, and Yani Tseng. Legends of the game. Tseng was unstoppable in her prime.11:02 a.m.: Chizzy Iwai, Hye-Jin Choi, and Auston Kim.11:13 a.m.: Jungmin Hong, Lauren Kim (a), and Sora Kamiya.11:24 a.m.: Melanie Green, Gurleen Kaur, and Soomin Oh (a).11:35 a.m.: Bronte Law, Johanna Sjursen, and Bianca Pagdanganan.11:46 a.m.: Thanana Kotchasanmanee (a), Weiwei Zhang, and Farah O’Keefe (a).And the morning on Hole 10 concludes at 11:57 a.m. with Katherine Muzi, Laney Frye, and Anita Lumpongpoung (a).
Tee No. 10 – Afternoon Wave
The afternoon shift begins at 3:30 p.m. ET. Brianna Do, Muni He, and Sarah Hammett (a) get things going.3:41 p.m.: Karis Davidson, Meja Ortengren (a), and Mi Hyang Lee.3:52 p.m.: Chanettee Wannasaen, Youmin Hwang, and Sakura Koiwai.4:03 p.m.: Lindy Duncan, Sayaka Takahashi, and Hyunjo Yoo.4:14 p.m.: Madelene Sagstrom, Yan Liu, and Jiwon Ko.4:25 p.m.: Ina Yoon, Leona Maguire, and Steph Kyriacou. Maguire is a formidable opponent.4:36 p.m.: Amy Yang, Ingrid Lindblad, and Julia Lopez Ramirez. Yang is a major winner.4:47 p.m.: Maria Jose Marin (a), Carla Bernat Escuder, and Miyuu Goto.4:58 p.m.: Hailee Cooper, Siuue Wu, and Dewi Weber.5:09 p.m.: Ally Ewing, Ana Belac, and Xiyu Janet Lin. Ewing is a consistent performer.5:20 p.m.: Becky Morgan, Olivia Mehaffey, and Ina Kim-Schaad (a).5:31 p.m.: Chloe Kovelesky (a), Chiara Tamburlini, and Chia Yen Wu.And the final group of the day tees off at 5:42 p.m. ET on Hole 10: Lois Lau, Yue Zhang, and Amy Seung Hyun Lee (a).
Strategic Play at Riviera: What It Takes to Advance
Riviera demands smart golf. You can’t just hack your way around this place and expect to score. The fairways are tight. The rough can be penal. And if you miss greens, you’re often left with difficult up-and-downs. For players like Korda, who might be feeling the pressure after a tough first round, it’s about simplifying.She needs to get back to basics. Focus on solid drives. Hit greens. Avoid three-putts. It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly difficult under major championship pressure. The mental game is huge here. You see players get tight. Make tentative swings. And that’s when the big numbers start to appear.For the players who are in contention, or looking to make a move up the leaderboard, it’s about taking calculated risks. Knowing which pins you can attack and which ones you need to play safe. The par-5s are crucial scoring opportunities. Birdieing those holes can make a big difference. But even then, you have to hit good shots. No sloppy play.The weather can also be a factor at Riviera. Coastal California can be unpredictable. Wind can pick up, especially in the afternoon. That can completely change the complexion of the course. Players need to be adaptable. Ready to adjust their strategy on the fly.Getting a good tee time can also play a role. The early groups often get the softer conditions. Less wind, maybe slightly less baked greens. The afternoon groups can face tougher challenges as the day wears on. But then again, sometimes the afternoon groups get a bit of a breeze that cools things down. It’s a toss-up.
Looking Ahead: The Cut and the Weekend
The cut line is always a big talking point on Friday. Usually, it’s the top 60 players and ties. Anyone outside that after 36 holes heads home. For many, surviving Friday is the primary goal. Especially for those who had a less-than-ideal opening round.Korda’s situation is a perfect example. She’s not out of it by any stretch. But she’s definitely put herself in a position where she needs to play exceptionally well today. A few birdies early, a few solid pars, and she can get herself back into contention. It’s about building momentum, one shot at a time.The U.S. Women’s Open always brings out the best in players. It’s a true test of skill, mental fortitude, and strategy. Riviera is a fitting stage for this prestigious event. We’re in for a fascinating Friday of golf. Let’s see who can handle the pressure and who cracks. It’s going to be a wild ride. You can find more information on the official U.S. Women’s Open website.