Introduction to Fernanda Lira and Her Golf Journey
Mexico is not only home to high-performing athletes in football and cycling but also in golf, thanks to Fernanda Lira. Born in Mexico City 30 years ago, she is currently the second-best national representative in the world golf ranking and the only Mexican with a LET (Ladies European Tour) card for 2026, the highest league in Europe.
Early Beginnings and Education
Fernanda’s love for golf started at seven, inspired by a Mario Golf video game from Nintendo. A scholarship to the University of Central Arkansas and international tournaments during her teenage years solidified her goal to become a professional golfer.
Choosing Europe Over the United States
Fernanda had strong connections with the United States, including a tournament in Las Vegas before turning 20, which led to her being recruited by coach Natasha Vincent for the University of Central Arkansas.
She moved to the U.S. in 2014 to study Marketing and develop her golf career, winning the UALR/ASU Women’s Classic in 2015 at the collegiate level and debuting as a professional in 2018.
A year later, she joined the Epson Tour, considered a “stepping stone” to obtain an LPGA Tour card, the most prestigious women’s circuit globally with the highest prize money.
Epson Tour and LET: Achievements and Challenges
Fernanda won her first professional title in the Epson Tour’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in 2021, but she never secured a spot on the LPGA Tour. This led her to choose another tour in 2023, the LET.
She explains that LET offers better prize money than the Epson Tour but less than the LPGA Tour, allowing her to travel to events not only in Europe but also in Oceania, Asia, and Africa.
Economic Aspects of Pursuing a Golf Career
A season on LET costs Fernanda around 2 million pesos. In contrast, a year on the Epson Tour demanded 2.5 million pesos for another Mexican golfer, Isabella Fierro, according to early 2025 reports.
LET has larger prize pools than the Epson Tour, and registration fees are significantly lower—around 125 euros compared to 400 USD (now between 300 and 350 USD per tournament) in the Epson Tour.
Fernanda’s Dreams: Olympic Medal and Empowering Youth
Despite the economic challenges, Fernanda remains focused on her dreams: becoming an Olympic medalist for Mexico and helping more young athletes, especially girls, secure scholarships in the U.S., regardless of whether they become professional athletes.
She represented Mexico at the 2023 Central American Games in El Salvador and aims to qualify for the 2026 Central American Games, the 2027 Pan American Games, and ultimately compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, especially with the new mixed-gender golf category.
Currently, she ranks behind Gaby López among Mexican women in the world ranking. Since Rio 2016, Mexico has been represented by Gaby López, Alejandra Llaneza, and María Fassi in the Olympic Games.
Fernanda’s other dream is to help young athletes, particularly girls, access U.S. scholarships in various sports like golf, gymnastics, and soccer, fostering their growth and development.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Fernanda Lira? Fernanda Lira is a professional golfer from Mexico, currently the second-best ranked Mexican and the only one with a Ladies European Tour (LET) card for 2026.
- Why did Fernanda choose LET over the Epson Tour or LPGA Tour? Fernanda opted for LET due to its better prize money compared to the Epson Tour and the opportunity to travel to events in Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa.
- What are the economic aspects of Fernanda’s golf career? A season on LET costs around 2 million pesos, while a year on the Epson Tour demanded 2.5 million pesos for another Mexican golfer. LET has larger prize pools than the Epson Tour, and registration fees are significantly lower.
- What are Fernanda’s dreams? Fernanda aims to become an Olympic medalist for Mexico and help young athletes, especially girls, secure scholarships in the U.S., fostering their growth and development across various sports.
