The HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore is off to a thrilling start, with England's Mimi Rhodes making a strong impression. She's just two shots behind the early leader, Auston Kim, after the opening round.
Rhodes delivered a flawless performance, carding a bogey-free 68 with four birdies. This impressive start puts her in a five-way tie for third place. Meanwhile, Kim set the pace with a stellar six-under 66, closing with consecutive birdies to edge ahead of China's Yan Liu by one stroke.
Defending champion Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson both posted solid rounds of 70. However, some of the other top contenders, like Charley Hull and Minjee Lee, found themselves further back with 72s.
England's Lottie Woad and world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul have some ground to make up after each shot a one-over 73, tying them for 36th place and leaving them seven shots off the lead.
Thitikul, fresh from a victory in Thailand, joins a highly competitive field featuring nine of the world's top ten players. Notably absent is world No. 2 Nelly Korda.
Reflecting on her progress since last year's event, Kim shared insights into her journey: "Scoring well feels great, but I've learned to handle things better. My mental game has improved, and today was a testament to that."
This tournament is the second stop on the LPGA's early-season Asian swing, with the final event scheduled for next week on Hainan Island, China. The stage is set for an exciting competition as the world's best continue to battle it out.