The story of Isabella Fierro, the Yucatecan at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba 2025

Isabella Fierro Saúl , the 24-year-old Yucatecan who overcame adversity and has been inspired by Lorena Ochoa, is one of the 8 Mexicans participating in the 2025 Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba , an LPGA Tour event that will be played from May 22 to 25 at the El Camaleón course.

But her arrival here has not been fortuitous or easy, as her story is one of tenacity, discipline, and struggle in the face of a health prognosis that kept her from her dream.

He was just 17 when a 100-yard shot, followed by a sharp pain, immobilized his wrist. "I started crying so hard, not because I got beat, but because of the pain," he recounted in an interview with Sports Illustrated , a sports publication.

The diagnosis for Race For the Card number 42 was devastating: a severe fracture , two severed ligaments, a bone out of place that acted like a switchblade, and a third on the verge of collapse.

Furthermore, the day of her scheduled surgery in Mexico City coincided with the earthquake of September 19, 2017, which was postponed to the following day. She was on the sixth floor of the hospital, and this traumatic experience added to the difficult process she was about to embark on.

From then on, Isabella Fierro faced a steep road to recovery that, in addition to physical strength, also required emotional strength, as she was unable to walk for four months, seven months in a full cast, and over a year unable to swing a ball.

The golfer, who also played for Oklahoma State University and was ranked 28th in the world as an amateur, says she was forced to become ambidextrous, and naturally, she began her first few games with trepidation.

But life isn't about not being afraid, but rather about overcoming it despite feeling it. She has done so in spades: and the fruits of this are evident today with her participation this week in the 2025 Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba .

In another talk for Excelsior , the Yucatecan golfer, who is one of the 8 Mexicans on the LPGA Tour , confesses that she has been inspired by Lorena Ochoa during her career, because she remembers when at six years old, Isabella Fierro asked her what to do if the ball went into the water.

The Mexican golf star responded that it was okay because he was always going to miss shots, and Isabella's message has become clear that making mistakes can be useful when we learn from them.

“ Lorena ( Ochoa ) is my idol . She's helped me so much in my golf career, especially when I turned pro. She's always willing to talk and help, which makes me admire her.”

"He's the perfect image of a humble person who achieved everything in his career and who now lives to help others. He represents everything to Mexico and, I believe, to golf in general worldwide."

And she has been part of “Xuntas,” a program led by Lorena Ochoa with the goal of introducing girls to golf with professional tools.

For this reason, playing in the Riviera Maya represents a very special and motivating challenge, says Fierro Saúl for the Mexican Golf Federation ( FMG ).

“ At Mayakoba, I'm going to be a local. I live in Mérida (Yucatán), so I'm super happy. I know that course inside and out. I'm so happy to be able to be there and super excited to see Mexican people supporting me.”

And as a resilient athlete, with an equally inspiring story of overcoming, after recovering from serious injuries, surgeries and difficult moments, she has never stopped dreaming big .

“ I want to be in the Hall of Fame , I want to be the best in the world and stay that way. But most of all, I want to go to the Olympics . Last year I came very close to going to Paris, so I'd like to go to Los Angeles 28 and future Olympics , and win a gold medal for Mexico.”

“That would be incredible. But I also want to win majors . I'd love to honor Mexico, leave my legacy and my mark on golf, and be an inspiration to other girls.”

Yucatecan Isabella Fierro is participating this weekend in the LPGA event, the largest women's professional golfers' association in the world, which returned to Mexico after eight long years of absence.

The setting for the 2025 Riviera Maya Open is the historic El Camaleón de Mayakoba golf course , where the world's best female golfers, including Yucatecan Isabella Fierro, will seek glory this weekend.