The 2026 U.S. Women’s Open tees off this week from the Riviera Country Club in California.
Earlier in the week, the top of the oddsboard was highlighted by world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who enters as a sizeable favourite to win the event at +380. No other player in the field is priced shorter than 9-1.
However, because this is the first time the women’s tour heads to Riviera, the tricky poa annua greens could present a challenge. This could be a week we see Korda struggle with the flatstick to keep some of the longshots in the event.
Transparently, I might still bet Korda to win this week, but while I decide between her or splitting that bet between 18-1 Hannah Green and 35-1 Lottie Woad, I have three longshots that I have already bet.
Riviera is a staple on the PGA Tour, which provides a strong data set to target players. Because Riviera consistently plays as one of the more challenging courses on the men’s tour, the focus for these longshots is on players who have shown strong tee-to-green play in 2026 or have a proven history on poa annua greens.
Rose Zhang +8000
Rose Zhang checks a lot of boxes coming into this week. She played her college golf at Stanford, which makes her familiar with this West Coast-style golf course.
She is 10th in the LPGA in strokes gained tee to green this year and sits outside of the top 130 in putting.
So at 80-1, I will roll the dice that this 23-year-old, already with three top 10s in majors, will keep up her strong tee to green play and make some putts while the rest of the field putts below their baselines on this tough putting surface.
Jennifer Kupcho +10000
Ask almost any golf handicapper and they’re tell you Riveria and Augusta National are very
Comparable, with driving accuracy less of a need and distance off the tee more of a prerequisite for success.
On DataGolf, Augusta National comes up as the fourth best comp course for Riveria, while Riv is number one on the list for Augusta.
Kupcho sits 19th on the LPGA in average driving distance and enters this event with four top 12s in her past five starts.
She was the first winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019 thanks to a five-under 67 in the closing round.
Brooke Henderson +12500
My final longshot of the day is Canadian Brooke Henderson at 125-1.
A winner on the LPGA Tour last year, Henderson has been sluggish in 2026 with just one top 10 in nine starts.
But her history on poa anna greens, with a win at the 2022 ShopRite LPGA Classic and a few other solid showings, shows she could be primed to contend in a major for the first time since the 2024 Chevron Championship.
