Lorena Ochoa hit the ceremonial opening drive Wednesday to kick off the second edition of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, marking another milestone for women’s golf in Mexico.
The Guadalajara-born legend joined fellow Mexican pros Gaby López, María Fassi and Isabella Fierro for the opening ceremony at El Camaleón Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, setting the stage for one of the most prominent LPGA Tour stops in Latin America.
The tournament runs through May 3 at El Camaleón, a Greg Norman-designed course inside the Mayakoba resort complex in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. A field of 127 players competes for a $2.5 million purse, with eight of the top 50 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings in the mix.
El Camaleón is one of a handful of courses worldwide to have hosted the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and now the LPGA Tour. The course features mangroves, lagoons, jungle and a natural cenote on hole 7 — a layout that rewards both precision and nerve.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda headlines the international field alongside López, Fassi and Fierro — the three Mexican players competing on home turf.
Moments like this
At the ceremony, Ochoa spoke about what moments like this one can mean for the next generation. She reflected on how watching professional competition as a child shaped her own path in the sport, and said events like this one give young players — boys and girls alike — a chance to see what a career in golf looks like.
Ochoa held the No. 1 ranking in the world for 158 consecutive weeks — an LPGA Tour record — from April 2007 until her retirement in May 2010. She won the 2007 Women’s British Open and the 2008 Kraft Nabisco Championship, her two major titles. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, the first Mexican golfer of either gender to reach the sport’s highest honor.
Her presence at Mayakoba carries weight beyond ceremony. Ochoa has spent years since her retirement working to grow the game in Mexico through foundations, academies and tournament development — and the Riviera Maya Open fits squarely into that effort.
She also expressed support for López, Fassi and Fierro, saying she hopes they can compete with confidence rather than feel weighed down by playing in front of a home crowd. Her message: enjoy it.
The 3 Mexican players bring strong credentials to the event. López, currently ranked No. 58 in the world, posted five top-10 finishes in 23 starts last season, including a fourth-place finish at the HSBC Women’s Championship in Singapore. Fassi, who placed in the top 50 at last year’s Mayakoba tournament, competed in 11 Epson Tour events in 2025. Fierro, who earned LPGA Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, put together six top-10 finishes in 19 Epson Tour events.
Competition rounds run April 30 through May 3.
Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba — Fast Facts
- Venue: El Camaleón Golf Course, Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
- Dates: April 27–May 3, 2026 (competition rounds April 30–May 3)
- Format: 72 holes, stroke play
- Field: 127 players
- Purse: $2.5 million USD (approx. 51 million pesos)
- Edition: 2nd (inaugural tournament was held in 2025)
- Mexican players: Gaby López, María Fassi, Isabella Fierro
- Tickets: Guests staying at Mayakoba resorts receive complimentary ground passes
- More info: rivieramayaopen.com
