Isabella applauds presence of nine Mexicans at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, April 28, 2026.– Isabella Fierro says she is excited to compete in the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, being part of a field led by World No. 1 Nelly Korda and featuring nine Mexican players. An achievement she believes has been influenced by the XUNTAS program, which provided her first support as a professional.
Fierro, champion of the Atlantic Beach Classic earlier in March, acknowledged that Lorena Ochoa left a legacy that is difficult to match. Alongside Fierro, the other Mexican players competing in the tournament are Gaby López, María Fassi, Clarisa Temelo, Ana Jiménez, Alejandra Llaneza, María Balcázar, Carolina Rotzinger, and Andrea Ostos.
“We started a long time ago with Lorena Ochoa. She set the bar very high for us, but it’s something really special to have nine Mexican players. I’m very, very happy for María [Balcázar] and Caro [Rotzinger], who earned their spots yesterday in the Monday qualifier,” she said.
She emphasized that part of the growth of women’s golf is due to XUNTAS, which played a key role in her career. “In my case, it marked a 180-degree turn. They were my first support when I turned professional. I remember the call I had back then with Lili Álvarez, who is no longer with us. When she told me they wanted to support me, to give me tools and everything I needed so I wouldn’t be alone in this professional journey, my hands were shaking. I thought it was incredible that someone wanted to help me, to be part of my project when I had barely started my professional path. I’m extremely grateful to them.”
In that sense, Isabella expressed confidence that more Mexican players will reach the LPGA in the future, as a strong generation of amateurs is emerging, including Clarisa Temelo. “We’re making noise, because people know more Mexican players are coming.”
Fierro added that she arrives in good physical condition, having had a week off before the tournament. “I got here on Monday, and by Tuesday I was already training. I had double sessions with my fitness coach, working a lot on movement and flexibility. As for how important the mental and physical aspects are, I can’t give you an exact percentage. There are days when you need more physical work and others when you need more mental focus. You have to approach everything as if it were 100%. When I work on my mental game, it’s 100%; when I train physically, it’s 100%; and when I practice golf, it’s 100%. But in the end, everything comes down to the mental side. I can practice for five hours, but if I step onto the course on day one without confidence, it becomes very difficult,” she concluded.
