England’s Mimi Rhodes and Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi both fired opening rounds of 64 (-8) to sit at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the first day of the 2026 PIF Saudi Ladies International.
Rhodes, who won the 2025 LET Rookie of the Year title, had a flawless first day at Riyadh Golf Club.
She rolled in birdies on the second, fifth, seventh holes on the front nine before adding further birdies on 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16 for her round of eight-under-par.
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“Clearly a lot went well for me today,” said Rhodes. “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 up-and-downs. On the back nine, I just forgot about my score, and I 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.
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“I think the course is the best that it’s ever been for me. 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.
“That was probably the longest break I’ve had from golf and not the most ideal. At the end of the day, you have got to put family first. It was a really fun holiday, and I am grateful my parents took us out there and we could all have some bonding time – probably too much for the family to be together. It was good to have forced time off, if not I definitely would’ve been back at it earlier. I’m glad to know I could take longer breaks after all.”
Choi, who began her day on the 10th tee, got off to an excellent start rolling in six birdies on her front nine.
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The 26-year-old continued with a birdie on the second hole before back-to-back birdies on six and seven with her only dropped shot of the day on the ninth, as she also sits on eight-under-par.
“I just took the day shot by shot, I felt my shots weren’t that good, but my putting was crazy. I made really long putts a few times. Every day, I feel a little better and more confident, so that’s why I feel I played well,” said Choi.
“I practiced a lot at winter camp. I tried to continue it to here and that’s why I think I played well. I will keep trying. I played really well last year. This is the start of my season, I don’t know what’s in the future yet but I will keep trying.”
Japan’s Chizzy Iwai is in solo third place one shot back after a first round of 65 (-7) in Riyadh. The LPGA Tour winner began her round from the 10th hole and made birdies on 10, 13, 15, 16 and 18 to make the turn in five-under.
She made another birdie on the second before a dropped shot on the third and then holed out from the bunker for an eagle on the fifth to finish the day on seven-under.
“First of all, the weather was so lovely and the temperature was good. My feeling out there was good, especially my tee shots on every hole were solid. It was fun,” said Iwai.
“Today I started on number 10. On my front nine, the wind was calm so I had easy choices with the club and it was easy to handle the wind which is why I played well on the front nine.
“My eagle, I couldn’t see the ball go in the hole because I was showered with sand. When I hit the ball in the bunker, it felt so good and it went in. I have not changed my goals. I just want to have fun on the golf course, keep my energy and focus on my routine.”
Two players are in a share of fourth place with Belgium’s Manon De Roey and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit both on six-under-par.
Three-time LET winner De Roey only dropped one shot on the first day of action rolling in seven birdies for her 66.
“I do play well here. I like the course,” said De Roey. “It sits up nice for my game. There are some par-5s we can reach and I have had some good records on this course too. It’s nice to start the season here with some confidence.
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“I hit some shots really close, some holes played quite long into the wind. I hit really good irons into the pins. For example, on 16, I had 152 and played 160 metres so I hit a 6-iron. It’s not the easiest green to hit a 6-iron into but I hit a good shot. I hit some good shots at good times and made some putts.
“The course is in really good shape. The greens are really nice, the fairways are perfect. It’s very green. It looks amazing, it’s the best shape we have ever played it in. I’m looking forward to another few days here.”
Tavatanakit, who won the 2024 edition of this tournament, had a similar day only making one bogey and rolling in seven birdies to also be in T4.
“I played solidly; I rolled in some putts towards the end,” said the Thai star. “Overall, it was just a really solid day. In the morning, the heat was fine but on the back nine it got a little hot. It wasn’t crazy hot.”
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Seven players ended day one in a share of sixth place with Korea’s Hyejun Park, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander, Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, Thai pair Cholcheva Wongras and Trichat Cheenglab, as well as Spanish duo Carlota Ciganda and Carolina Chacarra all on five-under.
