RHODES TO GLORY

Mimi Rhodes talks to Alison Root about how she got into golf, her incredibly fast start to life on tour and the healthy sibling rivalry with sister Patience

- Alison Root

Meeting Ladies European Tour player Mimi Rhodes at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club, set against its classic links, you immediately notice her calm confidence, a clear sign of her recent phenomenal success.

Fresh off securing three Ladies European Tour (LET) titles in her rookie season, Rhodes' story is one of unwavering dedication, strong family bonds and a disciplined path to golfing glory. I sat down with the rising star to unravel the journey so far, which has propelled her to the forefront of women's golf.

Rhodes' golfing narrative, like many, begins with a deep family connection. She credits her grandmother as the primary catalyst, a passionate golfer whose enthusiasm proved infectious.

"She definitely has inspired me and my sister ever since we were young," Rhodes shares, recalling how she picked up a club at the tender age of six or seven. Her grandmother, along with her grandpa, were "mad golfers, crazy for golf", instilling in them that a love for the game was about so much more than just winning.

"I'd always play with them when I was young on the weekends, and they'd just show me the fun part of it," Rhodes says. Judging by her down-to-earth nature, that sense of fun still runs through all she does.

FROM SOTOGRANDE TO SOMERSET

Burnham and Berrow, her home club, played a unique role in her formative years. Despite growing up in Spain, the pull of English education led Rhodes and her sister, Patience - a talented golfer in her own right who plans to turn professional after graduating from Arizona State University - to Millfield boarding school, just 20-30 minutes from the club.