Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, April 28, 2026.– María Fassi, a native of Hidalgo, is one of the nine Mexican players set to compete in the field of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, and one of the most experienced among them when it comes to facing events featuring many of the world’s top golfers.
“I’m very proud, because I know all the work each of us has put in to be here. It’s the result of a lot of effort—not just from each player individually, but also from the JUNTAS Foundation, the Mexican Federation, and the tournament itself, which gives us something to dream about and aspire to. It’s a great path for Mexican golf, and I hope that every year the LPGA returns to Mexico, that number keeps growing.”
Last year, María competed in 11 Epson Tour events, making six cuts, with her best result being a fifth-place finish at the Casella Golf Championship. She also played in nine LPGA events, making three cuts—one of them at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, where she finished 56th.
Fassi was the only Mexican player to make the cut and complete the tournament. The Olympian from Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 explained that while playing at home is motivating for national players, it also comes with significant pressure.
“Playing in Mexico isn’t easy. We have high expectations for ourselves, but there’s also external pressure from people who want to see us perform well. I was the only one last year to make the cut. Even though I didn’t play as well as I would have liked over the weekend, it helped me recognize a couple of things I did right to get through. If you ask all the Mexican players, it’s the tournament we most want to play and perform well in—and sometimes that works a bit against us.”
Fassi, who in 2018 received the ANNIKA Award as the top female collegiate golfer in the United States, noted that although playing at home is challenging, she hopes to improve on her 2025 performance in this second edition of the tournament in Quintana Roo.
“I hope this time I can do well, use what I learned last year to give myself a chance to have two solid opening rounds, not worry about the cut, and contend at the top. Even though it’s still challenging to play here, I’ll try to bring joy to the whole country.”
At 29 years old, Fassi joined the LPGA in 2019 after a standout career at the University of Arkansas. She currently competes on the Epson Tour, where she ranks 14th in the Race to Card standings after making two cuts in four tournaments. She finished second at the Atlantic Beach Classic and 29th at the Orlando Health Championship.
On a personal note, María shared that her foundation, Fassi’s Friends, now in its sixth year, has helped more than 600 families with children. She also spoke about the legacy she hopes to leave as both an athlete and a person.
“I’d love to win tournaments, Majors—my number one dream would be to win an Olympic medal. But more than anything, I want to be someone who inspired others and touched many lives. I’m fortunate to do that through golf and inspire new generations. Hopefully one day I can go to sleep knowing I helped many people both on and off the golf course,” the Mexican golfer said during her press conference.