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 Open.
Rhodes 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.”
