FORTINET FOUNDERS CUP

March 19, 2026

Gaby Lopez

Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Joining me after the first round of the Fortinet Founders Cup is Gaby Lopez. Gaby, a good 5-under round out there. This is a first LPGA event held at this course. What are your first impressions?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I love the golf course. It's pretty everywhere you look. I'm super happy that Sharon Heights Golf Club are hosting us. All the staff and everyone has been very, very nice. The community seems very welcoming, so I'm very happy to be back in San Fran with good weather.

Q. You obviously had a good score today. What do you think is maybe a key or tip about playing well out here?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I feel that when you hit the fairway everything just becomes so much easier. The rough is very, very high. Greens, I find them a little bit inconsistent. Some of them are very firm and some of them very soft, so it's hard to judge how it's going to bounce.

But, yeah, I feel overall I did a good job with my caddie hitting fairways, bunch of greens, making the putts when I needed to.

Very solid round.

Q. Your rookie season on the LPGA was 2016, so ten years ago. Now that you're in your tenth year out here, what goals do you have your yourself or what are you looking at this year?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, for sure I'm looking at my career in a very, very different way. It feels nostalgic ever since it's been ten years now. So I look back and I am trying to honor all those years here on tour. Trying to love all the practices that I'm putting on and try not to put so much pressure on myself, trying to accept a little bit more than before, and truly really enjoying it. Like I'm happy out there.

I struggled at the beginning of the season, the first two events in Asia, and I worked my butt off to see the ball how I wanted to fly.

So very happy with my team and everyone around me.

Q. We have a rookie on tour this year from Mexico. Isabella Fierro. Have you had a chance to talk with her or interact with her much as the other Mexican player out here this year?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, super happy Isa got her card back. Very happy to see the Mexican flag and the Latin flags out there. I'm here for her for anything that she needs. We share the same coach and pretty much the same team.

I'm really happy she's out here and with her mom. I think she's going to do just fine. Won her first Epson Tour, first event of the season. So I think she's coming up with a lot of the confidence and trust and I'm very happy to see her here.