KROGER QUEEN CITY CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY P&G

September 10, 2025

Maria Fassi

TPC River's Bend

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, very pleased to be joined Maria Fassi here at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G. Obviously welcome back to TPC River's Bend. When you come back to this course, this event, what are some of the memories you think about?

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, I love coming here since we were at Kenwood. I think Cincinnati is a very cool spot. Fans were always awesome. Last couple years here at River's Bend it's been a lot of fun.

I have great memories from last year. It's kind of crazy how different the golf course is playing from last year to this year. You were hitting shots that would release 50, 60 yards last year to now, I mean, I'm getting backspin off the tee.

It's kind of an interesting change for this year, but just overall extremely thankful that I'm here and get another opportunity to tee it up against the best in the world and see what my game does.

Q. How does this course suit some of your strengths?

MARIA FASSI: It's pretty fair off the tee. Not going to say easy off the tee, but it's definitely fair. Some of those fairways are a little bit wider maybe than what we're used to.

So, yeah, it just kind of frees me up off the tee a lot. But then at the same, like I said, it's playing softer this year, so length is a huge advantage. I think most of what we're going to see, at least tomorrow and maybe even Friday, is just carry distances.

So for me it's huge being able to not overpower the golf courses, but definitely use my length as an advantage. Yeah, it's been a lot of fun just getting ready for this week. It was nice having last week off and being able to rest, but also prepare and get my mind and my game where they need to be to be able to compete out here.

Q. This field usually is one of our better ones among the non-majors. What is it about this course, the event, this area that you think brings out and you some of the other stars on our Tour?

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, I think, like I said, both when we were at Kenwood and now here, both fantastic golf courses. I think they test different areas of our game. I think here it's a ball-strikers' place, your approach shots into the green, you got to plot your way around them.

As it gets firmer, which I'm sure it will throughout the week, you got to start to really think about your angles and stuff like that.

So I think it's a fun place for good players to come and want to showcase their talent. Like I was saying, I think the fans have been amazing here every year. The weather is absolutely beautiful. Cincinnati is a fun city. Yeah, it's just an overall very, very cool spot.

I think every year we see a little bit more growth in the area and stuff, more commitment from the sponsors. It's very cool to see that they're as excited as we are to be here.

Q. You were quite the emcee last night at the Tide and Downy Perfect Shot Challenge. How would you describe the experience?

MARIA FASSI: I was nervous. I saw you there and I'm like, oh, boy, I might need to ask her for some tips before I go.

It was very cool. I mean, I really enjoyed it. I think both Gigi and I had a good time. We were joking back and forth all day and it was a lot of fun just doing something different for a change. Sophia almost making the one was definitely the highlight of the afternoon.

Yeah, just a lot of fun. Maybe something that I'll consider for down the line.

Q. You don't need any tips for me you were very entertaining. What does it mean to have the exemption and be in the field this week?

MARIA FASSI: It's huge. I've said it before, but obviously this year it's been a little bit harder for me. P&G being one of my sponsors and not only believing in my game through a tough year and also providing me with an invite for this week. I need it, so it's amazing that they pull through and that they continue to give me opportunities to showcase the talent that they believe that I have and that I know that I can do.

So, yeah, just very, very grateful that I get to play. Like I was saying earlier, it's one of my favorite stops on Tour. I really, really like this golf course. I'm just happy that I get to try again for a couple days here.

Q. You spoke a couple months ago about doing a lot of soul searching, kind of reassessing your practice, how you go about practicing. Where are you in that process now with your game and your routine?

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, we were talking a couple nights ago with some friends that are out here. You know, like it's a very tough life, what we do. It's lonely. It's hard, especially when things aren't going your way.

But the last three months I'm having more fun on the golf course than I have in a very, very long time. Even though the golf hasn't quite shown everything that I'm feeling, I'm just proud that I can make that little girl in me proud again.

For a little while there was very little to be proud of on the way I was behaving on the golf course, and just now that obviously like I've said, it's a tougher year, you become a lot more grateful for those opportunities you do have.

Yeah, I'm having a lot of fun. I'm enjoying golf. I'm enjoying a bogey as much as I'm enjoying a birdie.

It's just fun to kind of get back in that mindset. I truly do believe that for me that's where I need to be. I need to be happy. I need to be playful. Getting back to that has been very rocky road. I think I'm starting to see some of it pay and maybe an easier road down the way.

Yeah, it's been fun to learn a lot about myself along the way, to know that the group of people that I have behind me, my family and friends, have been crucial in just keeping me steady, positive; and obviously my sponsors and the fact they continue to support me and believe in me.

I mean, it's been amazing to see, yeah, how everybody around me continues to believe maybe even at times where I didn't believe at all in myself.

Q. For you, I know this tournament has served -- yes, obviously time with your sponsors, but it's also served as a really good competitive performances from you over the past several years of this event. What is it about this style of golf? I know talked a little bit about overpowering this place with your driver when you can. What is it about this style of golf that really suits your game?

MARIA FASSI: I think I just like seeing a little more room off the tee. Like, again, even Kenwood, it wasn't necessarily wide fairways, but there was trees but they weren't necessarily in the way, so I just feel a little more comfortable off the tee.

I take a lot of pride in my iron play. I know that if I'm in the fairway, like I can be a very dangerous player. I feel like I found that the last few years out here. We had a very wet year I remember I think it was the second year at Kenwood and? That's when I did best. So maybe I just needed to be wet, so let's continue to keep it wet.

Q. You talk about all the mindset that you are taking to golf right now. What keeps you motivated and showing up when things get tough like that?

MARIA FASSI: I think just trying to, one, prove to myself that I can do it. You know, like I think deep down I believe that I can. It's just some of the bad voices in the back of my mind that for a little while were stronger than maybe some of the other ones.

So I think that like genuine belief has always been there. It's just maybe it was a little bit quieter than I wanted it. So it's just fighting to get that good, positive voice back.

And then also obviously with my foundation, the bigger and the better platform I have and the better golf I play, the more kids we can impact, the bigger our foundation can continue to grow.

So those kids are for sure a huge inspiration for me.

Q. And then finally from me, obviously this week leads into next week. It's a special week for you for a whole host of different reason. It's also the start of Hispanic Heritage Month on Monday. How proud are you of your Hispanic heritage and to be a positive role model for young Mexican girls and a lot of other women on the LPGA Tour?

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, it's a huge honor. I don't take that lightly. I'm extremely proud to represent Mexico everywhere I go. I always say that any time I get to put on the Mexican flag and play for a whole country, it's one of the best feelings in the world.

So, yeah, I mean, I think Mexico is very lucky to have both Gaby, me, Isabella out here continuing to, yeah, just showcase what Mexican golf is all about and also show the people back home that it's possible. Yeah, it's very, very cool.

Q. In addition to this week, next team is hometown. You're also a sponsor invite into next week's tournament. For these two weeks, when you receive the phone calls for the sponsor invitations, what's that emotion like knowing what you've been going through and how does that kind of free up your practice or change your mindset in preparing for a tournament?

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, I actually teared up a little bit when they called me about this week. Not just obviously because of the opportunity but just because I love this place so much, and it was amazing, like I said earlier, just to know there are so many people seeing something in me in a time where I'm searching for so much.

So I think it's more so than freeing up practice, it's just freeing up myself in general to know that they can't all be wrong, you know. They're seeing something. Just like kind of take it and run with it.

So, yeah, it's just been very special to have the support from the sponsors and also from fans and people in pro-ams and stuff. They're like, dude, you're so close. It's right there. Keep trying. Keep fighting. Like it's going to come.

So, yeah, it's really a breath of fresh air to know that people see the work that I've put behind the scenes that people that know me a little bit better, hey you're looking a little bit lighter and happier. To be honest, right now that's all I care about.

Q. Give as you quick update an Fassi's Friends.

MARIA FASSI: Busy. (Smiling.) No, it's great. We'll have our big fundraiser again at Top Golf next week on Wednesday night, and then we're expecting a bunch of kids on Thursday for a big clinic at the first tee.

We have a pretty fun day planned for them. You know, I was speaking with Stacy Lewis earlier and she was like, hey, when is the thing? Chesnee has been asking. We want to make sure we go.

Again, it's very cool to see the community get behind my dream and trying to give back. It's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait to do that, and obviously walk up 17 with all those kids and call the Hogs, just have fun with it.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Maria.

MARIA FASSI: Thank you.