Mimi Rhodes is relishing the chance to fulfil a childhood dream at the Solheim Cup and is backing Anna Nordqvist to lead Team Europe to victory in the Netherlands.
Rhodes makes her Solheim Cup debut for Team Europe this week at Bernardus Golf, having been named among Nordqvist’s captain’s picks last month, where the hosts look to regain the trophy after their 2024 defeat to Team USA.
The Englishwoman enjoyed a strong amateur career before claiming three wins during her Ladies European Tour rookie season last year, with Rhodes now looking to build on her maiden LPGA Tour campaign by achieving a lifelong goal of representing Europe.
“For me, it’s what I’ve been working for the last 12 years since I started playing,” Rhodes exclusively told Sky Sports.
“You have it on the TV and it’s what you’d wait two years to watch. I have so many vivid memories of watching on TV at my grandparents’ house and with my family – we’re all into team sport and we love watching team golf.
“It’s just such a huge week that everyone has to wait for every two years, so it’s so hard to put into words that I’m actually going to be playing in it.
“This has literally been the No 1 thing that I’ve dreamt of since I turned pro, even more than winning majors or anything. I’ve just wanted to represent Europe.”
Rhodes started the year with back-to-back top-10 finishes but later feared she may not get a captain’s pick, having missed seven cuts in an eight-tournament stretch from April to July before a solid finish to the qualification campaign.
She made the cut at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open and AIG Women’s Open, as many of her qualification rivals failed to impress, with Rhodes only finding out about her spot when Nordqvist called her after the final women’s major of the year.
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Highlights from the final day of the AIG Women’s Open, where Esther Henseleit lost out in a play-off after an incredible final day
“That phone call was just so surreal,” Rhodes admitted. “When you want something this badly and then it suddenly happens, it’s like, ‘wow, is this actually real?’
“It was such a stressful couple of months. I just didn’t know what to expect, honestly, when I got the call. I was fearing the worst and had come to terms with it a bit!
“I would have been devastated to miss out but I was just so happy that that she picked me. I just want to make her [Nordqvist] proud and I just can’t wait to play.”
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Anna Nordqvist announced her captain’s picks last month, live on Sky Sports
Rhodes was involved in the PING Junior Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019, before watching from inside the ropes as Suzann Pettersen snatched a dramatic 14.5-13.5 victory for Europe.
“That was a pretty cool memory,” Rhodes added. “They had a little party and we got invited in, so that was incredible.
“Watching it inside the ropes, I was thinking to myself, ‘I want to work hard to get playing on that team and representing Europe’. I think it’s the greatest achievement in women’s golf to represent your continent.”
The last three Solheim Cups held in Europe have produced the three closest finishes in its history, as 2015 and 2019 were both won by a single point ahead of the 2023 contest finishing 14-14, while Rhodes is confident Europe can come out on top and regain the trophy.
“I think on paper, it doesn’t really matter how strong their team [USA] is compared to ours,” Rhodes insisted. “I could tell at the practice there were a lot of good vibes, and we’re going to have a lot of fun, so I think it’s going to intimidate the other team.”
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Team USA captain Angela Stanford discusses her captain’s picks and how confident she is of them retaining the trophy on away soil
“Anna’s going to be an amazing captain – I got that vibe from her at the practise. She’s a really great leader, so I think she’s going to steer us in the right direction and bring the vibes.
“I think she’s going to be proud of us regardless, which relaxes us a bit, but she’ll have us in check! She’s really good with her words, and we’re looking forward to looking up to her as our captain.”
“We’re going to make her proud and bring it home.”
Who will win the Solheim Cup? Watch Team Europe’s bid to regain the trophy exclusively live on Sky Sports, with all three days live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports Golf. Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.
