LPGA’s Maria Fassi says she ‘discovered a tear’ in her knee, back in Mexico after surgery

Maria Fassi is back home in Mexico recovering from surgery to repair a tear in her left knee. The former NCAA champ and Arkansas star shared the news on her Instagram account Wednesday evening. Fassi later told Golfweek that she hopes to be back for the LPGA Mediheal Championship in mid-June if her knee is ready.

“Gutted to share with you guys that after a few weeks of playing with pain on my left knee we discovered a tear,” Fassi wrote. “My team and I decided it was best to go ahead with a minor surgery and step away for a minute to make sure I give it the proper time to rehab and recover. I am out of surgery and the knee is doing great. I look forward to getting back out there with all of the girls soon!”

Fassi made her first cut of the season last week at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open. After opening the tournament with her best round of the season, a 3-under 68, Fassi admitted that the pain in her knee was so bad that she probably shouldn’t be playing. She called it a “free week.”

“For me, it was just to try and go out there and have fun and do the best I could,” said Fassi, who ultimately tied for 50th. “That might be a new approach for the rest of the year.”

Fassi said she can’t pinpoint an exact moment when she felt the tear. Both she and the doctors believe the tear was caused by the constant repetition of movement and slight weakness in the cartilage of the knee.

“It’s not the greatest feeling,” Fassi texted, “but I’ll be back soon enough and stronger than before!”