THE MODERATOR: All right, go ahead and get started here. Pleased to be joined by Maria Fassi at the media center at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba.
Thank you for coming here. First things first, Maria has some fun news she just received, so I'll let her talk a little bit about it, her reaction to hearing the news.
MARIA FASSI: Yeah, well, obviously very happy to be playing at home this week. First time in Mexico as a professional, so it's a very, very special week for me.
And then about 25 minutes ago or so I got an email from the USGA saying that I was into next week's U.S. Women's Open, so I was, yeah, just very, very relieved, very excited. It had been a lot of work in the qualifier to get in this position even.
So, yeah, just very, very happy that I got the news and that I can kind of enjoy the week a little bit more now.
Q. And you mentioned about being back here in Mexico. How important is it not only for the LPGA, but you personally, to be playing back here in Mexico in an LPGA Tour event?
MARIA FASSI: Yeah, I mean, it's everything we always dreamt of as kids. We would come out and watch Lorena play, whether it was (indiscernible), whether it was in Morelia (phonetic) or Mexico City watching Lorena, like I said and all other pros play.
And then to kind of have that taken away for I think it's seven years since the last one, and then now be us the ones that people are watching and coming out to support, it's just amazing. It's an honor to represent Mexico everywhere we go.
I'm happy. I believe there are eight of us in the field this week from Mexico. It's the most we've ever had at an LPGA event, so it's just a very special week for the country, very special week for me that I get to represent Mexico at home and show my friends from Tour a little bit about our culture and the way we do things.
So, yeah, it's just been a fun week. I'm excited to get going on Thursday.
Q. Also understood that you have several family members on site and also some of the people that were an important part of your golf journey. Talk about who is here with you this week.
MARIA FASSI: Yeah, my parents just got in. One of my brothers is going to come. There is two very, very special people that are coming. The guy that taught me how to play golf. He hasn't seen me compete in a very, very long time, so it's pretty crazy that from I'm 7 to now 20 years later he's watching me play at an LPGA event. So I know he's over the moon. I'm pretty excited. It makes me emotional to think about it.
And then we have a guy that's worked with our family for 28 years, so known me since I was born. He was a very important piece in my life growing up, and he's going to come out. He's same thing: Has never been able to watch me play competitively, so this is going to be a treat for both of them.
But also for me to be able to kind of show them around the ropes and the things that I like to do these days; hopefully put on a good show for them.
Q. How familiar are you with this golf course? How many times you think you've played it?
MARIA FASSI: So I've played the World Amateur Team Championship here. I can't remember the year we were out here, but whenever that was I played it.
We used to do a lot of training camps here with the Mexican National Team, so I've actually played it quite a few times. It's playing very differently though. There is a lot more rough this week. The fairways are a lot tighter.
So it's similar but very different at the same time. But it's nice. Like I know maybe some of the tendencies with the wind and some places that you can miss, some other places you kind of want to be more aware of.
So, yeah, I just feel comfortable that I've seen it play very different enough times to where whatever comes our way come Thursday, it's not going to surprise me.
Q. The big hole on the one fairway, that probably comes into play for someone that hits the ball like you do.
MARIA FASSI: Yes, I'm actually not carrying driver in the bag this week so I can't reach it. I have mini driver in the bag. I can't reach with it mini driver unless the wind really goes down, which it shouldn't on this hole.
But, yeah, you just got to stay away from that. Take a photo and go on to the next.
Q. I've heard people like to go in there and take a picture.
MARIA FASSI: It's actually very cool down there as well. With how hot it is it's kind of nice and refreshing to get away from the heat for a second.
Q. Last time we were here it was Lorena's event, and she'll be here a bit this week. What has she meant for the game of golf for you specifically?
MARIA FASSI: Everything. Any time I see her, and whether I'm having a good year or bad year, whatever, I'm like, it's your fault that I'm here.
It really is. I wouldn't have even thought about playing professional golf if it wasn't because of her, if it wasn't because of the events we were able to go and watch.
I was fortunate enough to meet her at a young age, and my dad and her were quite friendly for other reasons in sports in Mexico and whatnot. We had a good relationship probably since I was like 10 or 11.
So, yeah, it was cool being able to like pick up the phone and ask her a question, or any time that she came to Mexico, try to see if I could go out and play 18 holes with her and stuff.
So, yeah, it's pretty cool that she's now kind of coming to watch us and support us. To me, she gets to see what she did, and I think it's very special I know for all of us, but I hope that she knows that she's the reason why the eight of us are here.
Q. I was going to ask, Maria Jose Marin won the stroke play portion the NCAAs. She was a third player joining you and Stacy to have SEC Player of the Year honors, and also win the individual title. What does it mean to see the continued development of that program that you were a huge part of?
MARIA FASSI: Yeah, it's awesome. I mean, I know how hard she works. I know how hard Shauna and Mike work to continue to have a competitive team. It's very hard these days to get good players unless you have a lot of money.
I think Arkansas as a whole in the school it's kind of a little bit behind on NIL, so she's having to work really hard to get good players to come and play for us.
So it's just awesome. I mean, I was watching yesterday. I was watching a little bit ago on Match Play. They looked like they were doing okay.
So just, yeah, extremely proud of them. Like I said, I know how hard Maria works. She's extremely deserving of it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports