👋 {{readername | Hey, golf fans}},

The 2026 U.S. Women’s Open you’ll watch this week is a world away from the inaugural 1946 edition. That was match play when Patty Berg defeated Betty Jameson 5 & 4. Berg earned $5,600, paid in war bonds. Eighty years on, the champion will collect $2.4M, the biggest payday in the event’s history. The venue, Riviera Country Club, is equally intriguing as Babe Zaharias made history there 81 years ago.

Let’s get started…

The first time a female professional golfer played at Riviera Country Club, she made history. In 1945, Babe Didrikson Zaharias became the first woman to qualify for a men’s major. She went on to tee off at Riviera, which used to host the LA Open, three more times. There’s little visual evidence left of that.

But we’ve found this one for you—look at the gallery surrounding her.

Eight decades later, the U.S. Women’s Open is debuting at Riviera. It’s a tournament Zaharias won three times in her career. One constant from her time to 2026 is the major’s knack for crowning unexpected champions. In the last 20 years, only two reigning world No. 1s have lifted the trophy (Annika Sorenstam, 2006; Inbee Park, 2013).

So Nelly Korda—with just three top‑10 finishes in the U.S. Women’s Open—doesn’t have history on her side. World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, on the other hand, is eyeing her first major. Defending champion Maja Stark is one of 11 past winners teeing up, including Michelle Wie West.

Hannah Green is chasing a second major. Lottie Woad, with two LPGA wins, is chasing her first major. Of note: seven of the last 10 U.S. Women's Opens have been won by first-time major champions. And 17-year-old Megha Ganne, together with three others, makes her professional debut this week.

But the women must also wrestle Riviera. Largely unchanged since it was built, Riviera features unforgiving par 4s that could separate the winner from the chasing pack. The Poa annua greens are also incredibly challenging. John Bodenhamer, the USGA's chief championships officer, said pros need to get every one of their clubs dirty. He might just be right.

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Sure, but… The longer this conversation runs, the less the golf rollback sounds like the ravings of a lunatic. Sure, Bryson and JT hate it. JT even called the USGA “selfish,” as you’ll find here. But Scottie Scheffler—who will certainly be affected by the change—is more open than most, though there is a caveat. Watch and hear what he thinks about the rules that will affect everyone (yes, even you) in 2030. It’s probably the most thoughtful take on the rollback to date.

Big divide: The PGA Tour is considering effectively dividing the tour into two. Right now, players can earn their spots in signature events via Aon Swing 5 and Aon Swing 10, but that option won’t be there. If you are in Track 2, your best hope is to grind and earn a Track 1 spot for next season. Another topic discussed during the PAC meeting also created friction among players. More on that here.

Apt timing: No one ever doubted that pro golf is awash in money, especially after LIV arrived and turned rich golfers, well, richer. But once PIF stepped back, LIV pivoted to belt-tightening while hunting for new investors. 2022 Open champion Cam Smith, who inked a deal with LIV for $130M, suggested trimming the absurd purse ($30M) per event. It’s sensible given the current climate. Still, if the purse shrinks, will Smith and others stay? Here’s what we know.

Last Poll Result: 45.07% of you said Nelly Korda should not join WTGL.

The short par-4 10th at Riviera CC will play 307 yards this week. But don’t let the yardage fool you. PGA Tour pros faced it this season at the Genesis Invitational—and if you’ve forgotten, this is how they played it. LPGA pro Mel Reid shares how to avoid that.

Your goal at the 10th is to give yourself a clear look at the flag. That’s how you play that par-4. If you want to play another tough par-4, check out our tips below.

FedEx Cup winner parts ways with winning caddie. He hints they might reunite, just not now.

Nelly Korda received a special gift from an American icon ahead of the U.S. Women’s Open. You can see her don it this week.

Rory McIlroy wishes to shake Jack Nicklaus’s hand this week. But he laments that his biggest skill is not going to favor him.

Well, for anyone who thought the Auburn Tigers were running out of gas, Wednesday definitely proved them wrong. In the NCAA Championship final, the Tigers kept the upper hand throughout the day, beating UCLA 4–1. It was big. How big? Just have a look at this Tigers player sprinting to his teammates like he is chasing Usain Bolt’s 100-meter record.

The standout performer was Auburn's Jackson Koivun. In possibly his last college outing, Koivun bested Baylor Larrabee 4 & 3. His team wants him to keep suiting up. Ideally, indefinitely. Watch head coach Nick Clinard muttering “one more year” as Koivun was having the time of his young career.

Today’s recollection comes from one of our readers who once caddied for PGA Tour winner Joel Edwards.

“Caddied for Joel Edwards back in '95. It was the opening tournament at Waialae Country Club in January. In our group was Peter Jacobsen, who ended up winning and then won a week later at the Buick!”

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