The Saudi Ladies International is heating up, and an English golfer is making waves! Mimi Rhodes, a 24-year-old rising star, is leading the charge at the halfway point of this prestigious tournament.
In the second round, Rhodes showcased her talent with a stellar performance, shooting an impressive 69, three strokes under par. Her scorecard was almost flawless, with birdies on four holes, including the challenging 10th and 13th, and a single bogey on the 16th. This consistent play has put her at the top of the leaderboard with an overall score of 11 under.
But here's where it gets interesting: Rhodes is not alone at the summit. She's tied with two other exceptional golfers - Casandra Alexander from South Africa and Chizzy Iwai from Japan. The trio is closely followed by Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Japan's Rio Takeda, who are just one shot behind in a tie for fourth place.
And this is the part most people miss: Choi Hye-jin, a South Korean golfer, started the tournament strongly with an opening round of 64, but she's now among a group of eight players tied for eighth place.
Rhodes, the 2025 Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year, is taking a relaxed approach to this high-stakes event. "I wasn't putting too much pressure on myself," she said. "I just wanted to perform well and make the cut, and I've exceeded my own expectations. I'll continue with the same mindset for the weekend rounds."
Her compatriots, Esme Hamilton and the highly ranked Charley Hull (world number five), are also in the mix, sitting comfortably at seven under. This year marks a significant milestone as the LET season kicks off with the tournament in Riyadh, offering a record-breaking prize fund of over 40 million euros for the 2026 campaign.
So, who will claim the title and the massive prize? Will Rhodes maintain her lead, or will one of her competitors pull off an upset? Stay tuned as the action unfolds in Riyadh! And feel free to share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below - we'd love to hear your insights and opinions on this exciting tournament!
