Gaby Lopez Says Lorena Ochoa Made Her Believe in LPGA Dreams: "Open and Approachable"

Apr 30, 2026, 5:57 PM CUT

RIVIERA MAYA OPEN AT MAYAKOBA 2026 RIVIERA MAYA OPEN AT MAYAKOBA 2026 PROAM TOURNAMENT 29042026 PLAYA DEL CARMEN, QUINTANA ROO. Action photo of golf legend Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, during the ProAm tournament of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba 2026 at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Foto de accion de la leyenda del golf Lorena Ochoa de Mexico, durante el evento ProAm del torneo Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba 2026 celebrado en el Club de Golf El Camaleon en Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Photo by IMAGENSHOP AGENCIA FOTOGRAFICA PLAYA DEL CARMEN QUINTANA ROO MEXICO *** RIVIERA MAYA OPEN AT MAYAKOBA 2026 RIVIERA MAYA OPEN AT MAYAKOBA 2026 PROAM TOURNAMENT 29042026 PLAYA DEL CARMEN, QUINTANA ROO Action photo of golf legend Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, during the ProAm tournament of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba 2026 at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico Action photo of golf legend Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, during the ProAm tournament of the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba 2026 at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico Photo by IMAGENSHOP AGENCIA FOTOGRAFICA PLAYA DEL CARMEN QUINTANA ROO MEXICO Copyright: xMIKIOxWATANABEx

Lorena Ochoa did not just win golf tournaments, but also inspired many young girls in Mexico to believe they could also succeed in golf. Gaby Lopez is one of those girls.

She is now a professional golfer, and when she was asked about Lorena Ochoa on Wednesday at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, her answer came straight from the heart.

"Lorena showed us what seemed impossible, possible for a little girl from Mexico," Lopez said. "I grew up thinking I wanted to be just like her. I grew up thinking I wanted to be an LPGA winner."

70502123. MÃ xico, 2 May. 2017 Notimex.- Las golfistas Lorena Ochoa, Gaby Lopez y Ana MenÃ ndez entrenaron en el Club de Golf MÃ xico, donde entre el jueves y el domingo se disputara el Lorena Ochoa Match Play, perteneciente a la LPGA Tour y dotado de 1.2 millones de dolares en premios. NOTIMEX/FOTO/ESPECIAL/COR/SPO/ CIUDAD DE MEXICO MEXICO EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx NTX15027000 ESPECIALx notimexpix677929

What stood out to Lopez the most was not the trophies. It was the way Ochoa behaved and carried herself off the golf course.

"She has always been really open and approachable," Lopez said. "So much humility, so much kindness, so much caring for others."

That legacy was felt this week.

Ochoa came to the opening ceremony on Tuesday at El Camaleón. She hit a special first shot on the 18th hole with Lopez, Maria Fassi, and Isabella Fierro. She also talked to the players about dealing with pressure, taking responsibility, and inspiring the next generation.

There are nine Mexican players in the tournament at Mayakoba this week. Two of them had to win a playoff on Monday just to qualify. Lopez believed all of this was part of something bigger.

Gaby Lopez on What This Tournament Means for Mexican Golf

Lopez has been central to bringing this event to Mexico, and the weight of that isn't lost on her.

"One day it was me behind the ropes," she said. "Hopefully, in a couple of years, we'll see more of them on the LPGA Tour."

Ochoa echoed that at the ceremony.

She told players to remove the extra pressure of being a local competitor and instead treat it as a shared responsibility; every player, not just the Mexican ones, has a role in making the week special.

El Camaleón adds even more meaning to the event.

The course is celebrating 20 years this year. It is also the only place in the world that has hosted events from the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, and LIV Golf.

Lopez carries that feeling with her this week. She said that win or lose, playing in front of her home crowd is always an honor.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Kalp Thaker