Latest news with #MimiRhodes
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rising Briton Rhodes 'itching' to start major career at Women's PGA
After a blistering start to her professional career, English golfer Mimi Rhodes cannot wait to begin her major career at this week's KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Frisco, 23-year-old from Bath received a special invitation to play the year's third major, which is worth a record equalling $12m (£9m), after three victories already in her debut season on the Ladies European Tour (LET).Rhodes will tee it up with the world's best players in a field that includes American world number one Nelly Korda on the Fields Ranch East course, which becomes the first in Texas to stage this event."I got here last Saturday and I'm just itching to to get started," Rhodes told BBC Sport. 'It's hard to wrap my head around everything' She turned professional after appearing in the Great Britain and Ireland team that won last year's Curtis Cup at Sunningdale. She has subsequently posted LET victories at the New South Wales Open, Joburg Ladies Open and the recent Dutch would not have believed anyone suggesting she would make such an impact so soon after joining the pro ranks. "I would have told them that they're crazy and they're lying," she said."It's unbelievable, how much I've achieved in such a short period of time. I'm just grateful for the process and grateful to be here and just want to make the most of it."Organisers issued two sponsor invitations, the other going to former US Solheim Cup skipper Stacy Lewis. Rhodes found out a fortnight ago and says it was "one of the best messages of my life".She joins fellow Englishwomen Charley Hull, Georgia Hall and Jodi Ewart Shadoff, and Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh, in the 156-player line-up. "I knew it'd be quite hard to get into the field, you know, being a major," Rhodes said."I guess it was a shock, definitely. But also showed me that I can be at the same level as other LPGA players and just gave me the reassurance that my game is where it can be to beat the best in the world."It has been a meteoric rise for a player who has already cracked the world's top 100. "Everything's kind of happened so fast," said the world number 89."I haven't really had time to wrap my head around everything. You go back home and members at your club come up to you, and you have all of these people coming up to you and asking you for pictures."That's when you sort of realise that, you know, you've done a big thing and, you've been playing pretty good golf."Rhodes will tee off at 13:55 BST alongside European Solheim Cup player Esther Henseleit and India's Aditi Ashok on a par-72 course that measures 6,604 yards."I really like it," Rhodes said. "It's in really, really good condition. The greens are quite slopey, but quite big, and it's a long course."I like my long irons, so I've enjoyed the days I've been practising it. I just have to have fun out there and hopefully the putts drop." 'I cried after JJ Spaun won' Hull is among the late starters at 20:17 BST alongside Korea's Jin Young Ko and Ayake Furue, of Japan. The English number one is 17th in the world rankings and seeking her first victory in this her 58th major comes into the championship following her tie for second place behind Maja Stark at the recent US Women's Open. It was her second runner-up finish in a so far winless 26-year-old suffered a neck spasm hitting out of rough in a practice round on Monday, but insists she will be ready to challenge for her third major title."With the injury that I had last year, every single time something kind of flares up in my neck now, I think I feel it a little bit more than what I used to," Korda became the first European in eight majors to win one of the big five titles with her success at Erin Hills three weeks 25-year-old Swede says the victory is still to sink in and her emotions were more affected by JJ Spaun's dramatic win in the men's equivalent last Sunday."I haven't really had time to think about it," Stark admitted. "I didn't cry after I won but I cried after JJ Spaun won because I was so excited for him."
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship: Mimi Rhodes
As the title sponsor of the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship, I've had the privilege of witnessing some truly exceptional young talent grace the fairways. And in my very first year of sponsorship, Mimi Rhodes stood out as a shining example of exactly what this championship represents and the heights these young golfers can achieve. Mimi won the girls' title at Quinta do Lago in 2019 with a stunning display of skill and determination. Her victory, marked by a breathtaking birdie-birdie-eagle finish, was not just a win; it was a statement, and it was clear to everyone that she had something special. Having followed her fortunes since 2019, my wife Kate and I invited Mimi to the Rose Ladies Open last year, and it was then that she decided to become a professional, and that became her first tournament as a pro. It fills me with immense pride to see Mimi's continued success – it's incredible that Mimi has won three consecutive Ladies European Tour events recently. She started with the Ford Women's NSW Open at the end of March, where she won by two shots in only her fourth appearance as a pro. She followed that up a week later by claiming the Joburg Ladies Open title in South Africa, winning by a shot. And then, last week, she won the Dutch Ladies Open by two shots. Mimi Rhodes securing her third consecutive Ladies European Tour victory at the Dutch Ladies Open Credit : Tristan Jones All of which means she comfortably leads the Order of Merit in her rookie season as a pro – and, as someone who knows how tough your first year as a professional is, that is no mean feat. It's a testament to her hard work and dedication, but also the foundations she built during her junior years. It shows what can be achieved when we focus on young talent in this country – and I am just happy that the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship played a small part by giving Mimi a platform where her talent could flourish. I know her time at Wake Forest University in North Carolina has played a crucial role in developing her game, and upcoming juniors may well want to look at how Mimi has gone about progressing in the early stages of her career. But, as I am sure Mimi will agree, it is not just about winning tournaments – although that is inevitably when the attention comes. Your early years in professional golf are about the journey, the lessons learned and the friendships made. It's about taking opportunities that come your way and then inspiring the next generation of golfers. I look forward to seeing what Mimi will achieve next, but on top of that, I can't wait to see what this year's winners of the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship go on to achieve too. Sign up your club to host a qualifier for the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship at
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
In-form Rhodes wins Dutch Ladies Open
Dutch Ladies Open, final leaderboard-9 M Rhodes (Eng); -7 B Navarrosa (USA), A van Dam (Ned); -6 A Uehara (Jpn), A Nobilio (Ita); M Kobori (NZ), L Sobron (Spa) Selected others: -5 L Walsh (Ire); -3 A Foster (Ire), H Screen (Eng); -2 H Burke (Eng)Full leaderboard England's Mimi Rhodes maintained her brilliant start to 2025 with her third consecutive Ladies European Tour title at the Dutch Ladies Open. Rhodes, 23, is playing in her first year on the tour and backed up her wins at the Joburg Open in April and the NSW Open in March.A final-round score of 69 was enough for Rhodes to win by two shots from Brianna Navarrosa and Anne van said: "It's really hard to put into words how happy I am right now. It's very exciting for the future and for my career."On the 18th green I was actually thinking about what I was going to have for dinner so I wasn't overly stressed about it. I knew I was two shots ahead, so just knew I needed to hold par. It's all a bit of a dream still."I kept checking the leaderboard on my phone. It was a tightly packed leaderboard, so I knew if I slipped up, it could have easily gone the other way."Rhodes continues to lead the order of merit with 1,546.88 points to her name. England's Cara Gainer is in second place on 952.18, followed by France's Perrine Delacour on 730.75.
Arab News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Rhodes, Tamburlini lead new generation at Aramco Korea Championship, part of PIF Global Series
SEOUL: Rising stars Chiara Tamburlini and Mimi Rhodes are set to lead the competition at this week's Aramco Korea Championship, part of the newly launched PIF Global Series. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The duo are to serve as captains at the tournament which was scheduled to begin on Friday and features an innovative team format. The Seoul event will feature the young talents taking on leadership roles — reflecting growing confidence in the new generation of women golfing stars. England's Rhodes has had a remarkable start to her 2025 season, claiming her first two titles on the Ladies European Tour with victories at the Joburg Ladies Open and the Ford Women's Open in New South Wales. Rhodes, who turned professional in 2024, said: 'I feel like I'm in a great place after those two wins. It's amazing to be back with my team after a short break, and I'm really excited for this stage of the season. 'I didn't expect to be a captain, but just hearing the idea gave me a real boost and confidence that I'm now among the top players.' Swiss golfer Tamburlini enters the tournament with confidence following a historic 2024 season that saw her win titles in South Africa, France, and Taiwan. She was crowned Rookie of the Year and topped the overall ranking on the Ladies European Tour. Tamburlini led her team to victory at the Shenzhen and Riyadh events last year, becoming the first captain to win back-to-back team titles in a single season. She said: 'I'm super excited for this week. Team events are always fun, and I love being surrounded by players I enjoy competing with. 'As a captain it's important to maintain team spirit and keep everyone motivated throughout the round. I recently played my first major in the US, which was a great learning experience. I hope to bring some of that here.' Rhodes was part of Tamburlini's winning team at last year's Riyadh Championship, which marked her debut in the Aramco Team Series, now rebranded as the PIF Global Series. All eyes are on the Aramco Korea Championship as it blends competitive golf with team camaraderie, aligning with Saudi Arabia's broader efforts to expand its international presence in the sport.
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rhodes takes three-shot lead at Joburg Open
England's Mimi Rhodes will take a three-shot lead into Sunday's final round at the Joburg Ladies Open in South who entered her second round with a one-shot lead, carded a four-under-par 69 to move to -12 for the tournament and three shots clear of South Africa's Casandra Alexander and Lauren Walsh of the Republic of Ireland (both nine under).The 23-year-old is chasing her second Ladies European Tour (LET) win after claiming the Ford Women's NSW Open title last month in Wollongong, had five birdies and one bogey in her second round in the shortened heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the course, the LET and Sunshine Ladies Tour opted to reduce the competition from 72 holes to 54, with the final round to take place as planned on was eight-under-par for the weekend when play was suspended on Friday before finishing the final 13 holes of her second round on England's Alice Hewson went level par in her second round and sits four under par heading into the final round.
