Staff WriterAt the Aramco Houston Championship, England’s Mimi Rhodes treated Houston’s humidity like a minor inconvenience and signed for a six-under 66.
The Aramco Houston Championship is the penultimate stop of the PIF Global Series, and Rhodes now leads it by two shots after a round that looked as tidy as a freshly raked bunker.
Leaderboard: Rhodes clear, big names in pursuit
Seven birdies and a single blemish put Rhodes two in front of a seasoned quartet on four under: four-time LET winner Nuria Iturrioz, Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes, Solheim Cup star (and Golf Saudi ambassador) Anne Van Dam, and Malaysia’s Ashley Lau.
One further shot back at three under is a busy pack that includes world No. 10 Charley Hull (also a Golf Saudi ambassador) and Sara Kouskova, who’s already won twice this season and sits second on the LET Order of Merit.
In the team race, Team Boutier—captained by Celine Boutier—posted 18-under to edge Team Tan—led by Singapore’s Shannon Tan—on 16-under. Call it a brisk opening statement before the Texas sun gets its say again.
Rhodes: calm hands, hot putter
Rookie season or not, Rhodes is collecting stamps: wins in Australia, South Africa, and the Netherlands already sit in the scrapbook. In Houston, she looked unhurried and inventive.
Rhodes said: “I’m really happy with it. I was consistent, only missed a couple of fairways, and I feel like my swing is in a good place. I can shape different shots if I need to, and I got a bit creative out there. The putts were rolling nicely too, which always helps.
“These are the events we look forward to all year. They’ve really elevated women’s golf. To win one would show that I can compete against the best in the world on this stage. It would be a huge confidence boost at this point in the season.”
Iturrioz: solid round, higher ceiling
Nuria Iturrioz, last seen lifting a trophy at the 2023 La Sella Open, sounded satisfied—if not sated—after her start.
“It was a good round. I played really solid, but I did miss quite a few putts, so I felt like there were more chances out there. Overall, I’m happy with how I played and it gives me confidence for tomorrow.
“t’s a really good golf course. I know there was a lot of rain last week, but it’s dried out really quickly. The greenkeeping team has done a great job.
“I’d love to get back into the winner’s circle, but my main goal is to be more consistent. That’s what I’ve been working on – both my swing and my mental game.”
Sobron Galmes: new sticks, same composure
New clubs, no problem. Luna Sobron Galmes turned an equipment shake-up into a quietly clinical opening day.
“I played really well and felt very comfortable out there. My caddie was fantastic, which gave me a lot of confidence. On Sunday and Monday, I had to play with a new set of clubs, so I wasn’t sure how they would feel, but I went out with no expectations and it worked really well.
“The key for me has been mindset. Staying calm, being patient, and taking it step by step is what helps me perform. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and just want to enjoy being here with the team.”
Ambassadors, participation, and the bigger build
Seven Golf Saudi ambassadors finished inside the top 20 after round one, a useful snapshot of the programme’s reach. Beyond the week-to-week leaderboard churn, Golf Saudi continues to push participation pathways—grassroots to elite—while packaging the Kingdom as a growing hub for golf, tourism, and investment.
You can argue the finer points, but the scoreboard is simple: the fields are deepening, the stages are bigger, and the players are buying in.
If you’re going
Tickets for the weekend are priced from $20 for Saturday or Sunday, with a $50 weekend pass available.
For details on the PIF Global Series and the Aramco Houston Championship, visit the official site.
