The Rise of Mimi Rhodes: A Leader in the Making
In a thrilling development at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, England's Mimi Rhodes has emerged as the outright leader after an impressive second-round performance. But here's where it gets controversial...
Rhodes, a 24-year-old rising star, showcased her talent with a three-under-par 69. Her scorecard boasted birdies on four holes, including the 10th, 13th, and the first two holes of the round. However, a bogey on the 16th served as a minor setback, yet she still managed to reach an impressive 11 under overall.
And this is the part most people miss: Rhodes, the 2025 Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year, is now a stroke ahead of her closest competitors, Casandra Alexander from South Africa and Chizzy Iwai from Japan. They are closely followed by Carlota Ciganda of Spain and Rio Takeda of Japan, who are tied for fourth place.
Among the pack is Choi Hye-jin of South Korea, who started the tournament strongly with an opening 64. She is now among eight players tied for eighth place.
In her own words, Rhodes shared, "I wasn't putting too much pressure on myself this week, but it's obviously a big event. I wanted to perform well and ensure I made the cut, and I've exceeded those expectations. I won't change my approach for the weekend; I'll stay focused, take it one shot at a time, and aim for more birdies with minimal bogeys."
Two of Rhodes' fellow Englishwomen, Esme Hamilton and world number five Charley Hull, are also in a strong position, sitting at seven under.
This year marks a significant milestone as the LET season opens with the tournament in Riyadh. Players are competing for an unprecedented prize fund of over 40 million euros (£34.5 million) across the 2026 campaign.
So, will Rhodes maintain her lead and claim the title? Or will one of her competitors steal the spotlight? What do you think? Feel free to share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
