Can a team event with Stacy Lewis be the catalyst that turns around Maria Fassi’s year?
Could four rounds with Stacy Lewis be the catalyst that turns around Maria Fassi’s year? Judging by her words and demeanor after Day 2, it sure seems that way.
Fassi said the education started on Monday during a practice round at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.
“I’ve been able to learn so much of just how the game should be played,” said Fassi. “For me, it’s just been a lot of fun. I think I’ve been able to smile really more than I have all year.”
Lewis put the Arkansas women’s golf program on the map, and then Fassi helped carry the torch, matching her with an NCAA individual title in 2019.
Together, they’re 6 under for the tournament and in a share of 16th after carding a 5-under 65 in the fourball format. They’re four strokes behind clubhouse leaders Mel Reid and Carlota Ciganda.
Fassi, who has dealt with health issues this year and missed the cut at the last major after being assessed a two-stroke slow play penalty, has cashed only one paycheck all season on the LPGA. It was Fassi who asked Lewis to be her partner for the team event.
Lewis, a two-time major champion and former No. 1, said she feels that Fassi has grown “a lot” since that Monday practice round.
“The greatest thing about her is that she can already hit the shots,” said Lewis. “That’s why I’m hounding on her; it’s just the right shot at the right time. I look back on my career and playing golf shots and hitting well, you’re playing the right shot at the right time.
“I don’t speak Spanish with her and her caddie, but I can kind of hear some numbers being thrown out and when I hear the right number I walk away because I know they’re on the right track, but if they’re kind of taking longer than I think they should I’ll step in and say something.”
Fassi moved back to Arkansas from Orlando earlier this year and described it as the best decision she’s made in a while. Fayetteville feels like home, and her old college coach, Shauna Taylor, is there to help with short game, too.
While there was plenty of hype at the start of Fassi’s professional career, she said the biggest weight came from her own expectations. As the missed cuts mounted, the self-doubt did, too.
Thankfully, this week already feels different from any other she’s experienced as a professional.
“I was talking about it with my mom actually last night,” said Fassi, “and I was telling her like I think regardless of what happens this week, it’s going to be definitely one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s just been so much fun. It’s been a privilege to be able to learn from Stacy, to play with her, to get hyped together.”
