Rhodes Leads Saudi Ladies International After Opening 64

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Wednesday, February 11, 2026 – England’s Mimi Rhodes fired an impressive eight-under-par 64 to share the lead after the first round of the PIF Saudi Ladies International, the opening event of the Ladies European Tour season. She is tied at the top of the leaderboard with South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi.

Rhodes, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 campaign, demonstrated the form that saw her win three times on the Ladies European Tour and finish second in the Order of Merit. Her success last year also earned her Rookie of the Year honors and a coveted LPGA Tour card via Q-School. Today’s performance suggests she’s carrying that momentum into the new season.

The 24-year-old from Taunton navigated the Riyadh Golf Club course with precision, carding birdies on the second, fifth, and seventh holes on the front nine. She continued her stellar play on the back nine, adding further birdies at the 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, and 16th holes. Her flawless round was a testament to her preparation and confidence.

“Clearly a lot went well for me today,” Rhodes said after her round. “Having had so much time off [over the winter break], I was a bit nervous at the start. I left a few putts short, but the game felt really solid. I missed a few greens on the front nine, but I made some up-and-downs. On the back nine, I just forgot about my score and was trying to make as many birdies as I could. I don’t think I missed a green on the back nine, so everything was feeling good. My putting was on point.”

Choi matched Rhodes’s impressive score, beginning her day on the 10th tee and quickly establishing a strong position with six birdies on her front nine. She continued her strong play with a birdie on the second hole, followed by back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh. Her only dropped shot of the day came on the ninth, but she still managed to finish at eight-under-par.

Japan’s Chizzy Iwai sits in third place, just one stroke behind the leaders after a seven-under-par round of 65. Belgium’s Manon De Roey and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit share fourth place, both finishing at six-under-par.

Rhodes attributed her success to a focused preparation and a growing comfort with the course. “I think the course is the best that it’s ever been for me,” she explained. “The greens have improved so much, they’re rolling so nice and I just got used to the speed of them early on and focused a lot on the practice rounds. I was looking at breaks and the speed of the greens, and it paid off today. I’m feeling comfortable with my game overall.”

The PIF Saudi Ladies International promises to be a competitive event, with a strong field vying for the title. Rhodes’s strong start positions her well for a potential victory, but with Choi and Iwai close behind, and a host of other talented players in contention, the tournament is far from decided. The event marks the beginning of the Ladies European Tour season, and Rhodes’s performance sets a high bar for the rest of the field.

The tournament is taking place at the Riyadh Golf Club, which Rhodes feels is in excellent condition. Her ability to read the greens and capitalize on scoring opportunities proved crucial in her opening round. The focus on practice rounds and understanding the nuances of the course clearly paid dividends.

The leaderboard reflects a diverse range of talent, with players from England, South Korea, Japan, Belgium, and Thailand all featuring prominently. This international representation underscores the growing global appeal of the Ladies European Tour and the PIF Saudi Ladies International.

As the tournament progresses, the pressure will undoubtedly increase, and the ability to maintain composure and consistency will be key. Rhodes’s experience and recent success will serve her well, but she will need to continue to execute her game plan effectively to stay in contention. The coming rounds will reveal whether she can build on her impressive start and secure her first victory of the 2026 season.