Garden State Talent Takes Center Stage at the 81st U.S. Women's Open
LOS ANGELES, Calif - The biggest stage in women's golf awaits this week, and New Jersey will be well represented.
When the 81st U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally begins at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, two of the brightest young stars with New Jersey ties will be among the competitors chasing one of golf's most prestigious championships: Megha Ganne and Aphrodite Deng.
For Ganne, the championship represents another milestone in what has already been a remarkable amateur career. The Holmdel native burst onto the national scene at the 2021 U.S. Women's Open, where she held a share of the first-round lead and ultimately finished tied for 14th as the low amateur. Since then, she has developed into one of the premier amateur players in the world, helping Stanford win two national championships, representing the United States in international competition, and most recently capturing the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur title to earn her exemption into this year's championship.
Now 21 years old, Ganne arrives at Riviera for a career-defining week. The Holmdel native will make her professional debut at the U.S. Women's Open after capping her amateur career with a U.S. Women's Amateur title and a victory alongside Team USA at the Women's World Amateur Team Championship.
Deng, a Canadian-born rising star who now calls Short Hills home, represents the next generation of talent.
The 16-year-old junior, who has made New Jersey her adopted home, earned her place in the championship by winning the 2025 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship. Ranked among the top amateurs in the world, Deng has rapidly become one of the most exciting young players in the game. She successfully defended her title at the Mizuho Americas Open Junior Invitational at Mountain Ridge Country Club earlier this spring and enters the U.S. Women's Open ranked No. 8 in the Women's World Amateur Golf Ranking.
For Deng, Riviera marks her first appearance in the U.S. Women's Open, a significant step in a career that continues to accelerate at an impressive pace. The championship will provide an opportunity to test her game against the best professionals and amateurs in the world.
Together, Ganne and Deng showcase the strength of golf in New Jersey. One is an established national champion with experience contending on the game's biggest stages. The other is a rising phenom whose future appears limitless.
This week at Riviera, both will have the opportunity to add another chapter to their growing résumés while carrying New Jersey's presence onto one of golf's grandest stages.
U.S. Women's Open Viewing Schedule
Fans can watch all four rounds of the 81st U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally from Riviera Country Club on NBC, USA Network, Peacock and NBC Sports platforms. Coverage begins Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network before shifting to Peacock and NBC Sports. Weekend coverage continues Saturday from 5-10 p.m. ET and Sunday from 3-8 p.m. ET, with NBC carrying the closing portions of both rounds. Featured groups and additional streaming coverage will also be available throughout the championship.
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