Pacific Palisades, Calif. – For most 16-year-olds, competing against the best golfers in the world would be overwhelming. For Beachside junior Sofia Rivera, it’s an opportunity she’s spent years preparing for.
Rivera, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX Girls Golfer of the Year, began play Thursday in the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club, becoming the youngest golfer from Northeast Florida to ever compete in the prestigious championship.
The amateur earned her spot in the 155-player field by winning a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier in April at Sugar Mill Country Club, beating a field of 70 golfers. Now, she is competing alongside many of the game’s biggest stars on one of golf’s most iconic stages.
“Being in California all the way across the country is just amazing,” Rivera said. “The way the players get treated here. The course. Just everything about it is just amazing.”
The tournament appearance is the latest milestone in a breakout year for Rivera. In January, she became just the sixth local girls golfer to win an individual state championship, capturing the Class 3A title by four strokes.
“It’s been rewarding because I didn’t have the best year last year, but I felt like I was improving,” Rivera said. “I just wasn’t seeing it out in tournaments in my scores. This year so far has just really shown me my hard work and everything that I’ve done. It’s translating into good play and good results.”
Rivera, who committed to Indiana University, fell in love with golf when she was 6 years old. She practices six days a week at several Northeast Florida courses, including St. Johns Golf and Country Club, Deercreek Country Club and Glen Kernan Club.
Despite the magnitude of the event, Rivera is approaching the week with a familiar mindset.
“Kind of treat it like a normal tournament,” Rivera said. “I mean it’s kind of hard to when you’re playing at Riviera and you see all the stars when you’re out here, but it’s just golf at the end of the day. I still have to hit the golf shots, so that’s kind of my mindset going into the week.”
One of Rivera’s biggest advantages this week is walking alongside her uncle, Russell Knox, a two-time PGA Tour winner who now competes on the Korn Ferry Tour. Knox caddied for Rivera during qualifying and is back on the bag for the U.S. Women’s Open. The two share a close bond, and Rivera credits his experience as a major asset.
“A superpower I have,” Rivera said of having Knox as her caddie. “We have such a good relationship. It’s awesome to have him out here and the knowledge that he has just in golf, not only on this golf course, but just golf in general. He’s played out here quite a few times as well, so it’s just nice to have him here.”
Rivera said there has been an adjustment to Riviera’s grass conditions, which differ from the courses she typically plays in Florida. Still, she believes she belongs among the elite field.
“It’s kind of cool to see myself stack against them, but I feel like I belong out here,” Rivera said. “Definitely in the beginning it’s like, ‘Woah, I’m playing alongside these girls,’ but seeing that I can compete with them, it’s really nice.”
As Rivera begins her first U.S. Women’s Open, her expectations remain simple. Her goal is to make the cut and continue proving that one of Northeast Florida’s brightest young golfers can compete on golf’s biggest stage.