PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – For Gaby Lopez, Riviera Country Club feels like home. The grass, Kikuyu and Poa, are what she grew up with in Mexico City. Lopez came to L.A. early to scout the course and has revamped her schedule to cater almost exclusively to the majors.
Lopez, who opened with a 68 at the U.S. Women's Open to trail leader Sei Young Kim by one, took a month off of the LPGA heading into Riviera. With four majors slated through August, Lopez will play in only one non-major – the Scottish Open – between now and the AIG Women's British Open.
Visit biznow.biz for more information.
She'll skip both the Dow Championship team event and Meijer LPGA ahead of the KPMG Women's PGA at Hazeltine.
"Honestly, I feel that I honestly don't play well at Meijer," said Lopez. "I don't like the golf course. It's still Poa, but it's one of the golf course that's I keep coming back and give it a try. This year, I'm like, you know what, no. Instead of missing the cut, I'm going to skip it and do good prep.
"I feel like that's how you create confidence on your preparation."
Lopez says she's more adaptable now than past years, with different types of shots and grasses. She's more forgiving of herself, too.
"Right now I'm honestly just stop chasing," said Lopez. "Like if it happens, great. If it doesn't, great. I tried my best. But I'm not going to let myself get in the way of me trying too hard out there."
Lopez considers LPGA Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa a mentor and has carried on her tradition of meeting with the course staff – from the kitchen to the groundskeepers – each week.
"I don't know, I really like to stay close to them," said Lopez. "I love to say thank you and hello by their name, and I think they need that respect and they need that showcase as well, because they wake up at 3, 4 a.m. every single day for us, and we don't see it. We just show up and play.
"There's people behind making the work for us, and I think me just taking a little bit of time and just staying close to them, I mean, they're Mexican, I'm Mexican, and I'm very proud to represent them."
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Gaby Lopez of Mexico feels right at home at Riviera for the U.S. Open