Inside the field at the 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur
The 126th U.S. Women's Amateur at The Honors Course boasts one of the strongest fields in amateur golf, featuring 156 players from 16 countries and 33 states competing for one of the game's most prestigious titles.
- The 126th championship at The Honors Course continues that tradition, bringing together 156 players from 16 countries and 33 states to compete for one of the game’s most prestigious titles.
- This week, the average age of competitors is just 19.9 years old, although the field spans five decades — from 14-year-old Maggie Jiayi Ma to Australia’s Sue Wooster, who is 64.
- The championship’s international reach is just as evident, with players representing 16 countries, including Canada, Australia, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
- contingent, with California leading the way with 25 entrants, followed by Florida 13 and Texas 11 .
The U.S. Women’s Amateur assembles one of the strongest fields in amateur golf. The 126th championship at The Honors Course continues that tradition, bringing together 156 players from 16 countries and 33 states to compete for one of the game’s most prestigious titles.
As we’ve seen year after year, there is no single path to the U.S. Women’s Amateur — and this year’s field reflects that. Junior champions, collegiate standouts, seasoned amateurs and international contenders have all earned their place in Tennessee.
This week, the average age of competitors is just 19.9 years old, although the field spans five decades — from 14-year-old Maggie Jiayi Ma to Australia’s Sue Wooster, who is 64. This diversity in age highlights the varied journeys that lead athletes to compete at such a high level in amateur golf.
The championship’s international reach is just as evident, with players representing 16 countries, including Canada, Australia, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. While players from 33 states make up the U.S. contingent, with California leading the way with 25 entrants, followed by Florida (13) and Texas (11). This global representation underscores the worldwide appeal and competitive spirit of amateur golf.
Experience and pedigree are abundant too. Rianne Malixi, the 2024 winner here, headlines a group of nine USGA champions in the field, joined by reigning U.S. Girls’ Junior champions Aphrodite Deng and Clairey Lin. Accomplished veterans like Lara Tennant and Dawn Woodard bring multiple USGA titles of their own, while seven Curtis Cup players, five members of the U.S. National Junior Team and five athletes from the USGA’s Elite Amateur Program further illustrate the championship’s depth and the caliber of talent on display.
The world’s top amateurs are equally represented. Twelve players ranked inside the top 20 of the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking are in the field, led by NCAA champion Farah O’Keefe and fellow top-20 players Asterisk Talley, Soomin Oh, Jasmine Koo and Malixi. Former NCAA champ and Stanford star Rachel Heck is also teeing it up. This concentration of elite talent promises a fiercely contested championship.
You can watch this week’s event on Golf Channel. The TV schedule is below:
Thursday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (ET) Friday: 3-6 p.m. (ET) Saturday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 3-6 p.m. (ET) Sunday: 3-6 p.m. (ET)
The field at the 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur is set to deliver an exciting showcase of the highest level of amateur golf, reaffirming its status as a premier event on the calendar.
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