Casandra Alexander is confident she can contend at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open as the Ladies European Tour (LET)’s number one tees up in the second Major championship of the year at The Riviera Country Club.
The big-hitting South African currently leads the LET Order of Merit thanks to five runner-up finishes across the 2026 season. The highly consistent run has helped Alexander climb to a career-best World No 31 in the Rolex Rankings – a position which sees her well in the conversation to compete for the title is Los Angeles.
“It’s a really stunning golf course,” Alexander said. “Great layout. A real Major championship layout. The greens are really quick and I’m really looking forward to the week. It’s playing long and that obviously really helps. But it is a Major championship so we wouldn’t expect anything less. There’s some tight holes where you really have to position yourself well. I think that’s going to be key this week.
“I don’t count myself out, that’s for sure. I’m playing nicely, the course suits me and I’ve done my preparation. It’s now about playing and seeing what happens. I’m definitely not counting myself out. I’ve played well in Major championships and I’ve got myself into a position where I believe I can play well. If everything goes my way and I have a little bit of luck on my side, I don’t why not.”
Still only 26-years-old, Alexander has a fine record in Majors championships making the cut in four out of her five outings and recording two top-20 finishes at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open (T7) and 2025 Amundi Evian Championship (T20).
“I really enjoy the Majors,” the one-time LET winner said. “I think they’re tougher. I have a very Brooks Koepka look on it. A lot of people make it this big thing but I’m still on a golf course with my same golf clubs and a golf ball. I try to simplify Majors a lot. Obviously there is a lot of extra preparation that goes into it and a lot of extra information you need in order to play well. But I’ve been doing that really well. I’ll try not to overthink it. It’s just another golf course and just another golf tournament, that’s how I look at it. That’s given me a big advantage in the past.
“I find the harder the golf course, the better I play because I have to stay focused. Sometimes you get a bit bored playing straightforward golf courses but Majors are the exact opposite of that. I think that’s helped me a lot and I just like the big stage and I like playing in big golf tournaments alongside the best in the world. I always look forward to the Majors.”
Leading the LET Order of Merit, Alexander rubbed shoulders with another No 1, Nelly Korda, on Monday playing alongside the world’s best in a practice round at The Riviera Country Club.
“I spoke to her a little bit,” Alexander said. “It’s a little intense. She’s very nice and her caddie is awesome but there’s a lot of people around her all the time. It’s a lot. We walked past her today and she had a crowd of about 30 people around. She gets recognised everywhere.
“But she is an unreal golfer. Her short game is crazy. She’s very intense in what she does and how she prepares. She’s on it. She wastes no time. But it was really cool and it was the first time I’ve played with her. I mean, there’s a lot to be impressed by so I really enjoyed it.”
Alexander gets underway at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally on Thursday at 1:25pm local time playing alongside Korea’s Jinhee Im and Japan’s Ai Suzuki.
