THE MODERATOR: (In progress.) ...that you were selected for the 2026 European Solheim Cup team. Could you just talk us through getting that call and looking forward to Solheim Cup this year.
MIMI RHODES: Yeah, I mean, I didn't really know what to expect when I was driving back home from Lytham. I didn't really have a great week, but I still had an okay week. So, yeah, didn't really what to expect.
Yeah, I got the call from Anna as soon as Esther got into the playoff. Yeah, didn't know if it was good or bad. But, yeah, she didn't sound like super over-excited on the phone so I was like so like nervous still on the phone. My heart was racing, and, yeah, then she said she was picking me and it was just like -- it took so long to sink in honestly.
I was driving down with my boyfriend and he was just like fist pumping in the air, and he was like, let's turn around. Let's turn around. Let's go party.
Yeah, I mean, I'm going to remember that moment for a long time, for the rest of my life probably. It was just like, yeah, it's been such a huge goal of mine since I've even started playing golf. It just felt so surreal that it happened. Yeah, I'm just so excited for the week.
Q. You played on a Junior Solheim Cup team and you played collegiate golf at Wake Forest, so you have some experience playing team golf. Can you just tell us what you're looking forward to being on this European Team as well as any strength thanks you think you have in terms of team golf.
MIMI RHODES: Yeah, I mean, when -- I mean, we had the squad practice and I really felt like the team had good chemistry. You know, I just love being on teams where I can add a bit of fun to the group or just make it a bit more exciting when we see each other. So I really bonded with a lot of girls on the team.
Yeah, I think it's just that. I'm just looking forward to growing our friendships together and just being out there supporting each other. Just doesn't happen that much in golf and that's why I love team golf so much.
Yeah, it's just a one-of-a-kind week. People look forward to it over like two year stretches. So, yeah, I'm just excited to root people on and get those fist pumps going.
Yeah, I mean, I just love playing in front of crowds and it's probably going to be a lot of people out there supporting Team Europe, so, yeah, it's going to be good fun.
Q. As you alluded to, it is being played in Europe this year. What are you looking forward to being a Solheim Cup rookie on kind of home soil?
MIMI RHODES: Probably just the first tee vibes. I've heard, yeah, a lot of good things about it, a lot of bad things about it. If you're playing foursomes and you're the first one teeing off, it's -- you can't really feel your hands on the club.
But, I mean, I think it's something that we all practice so hard to make and to have kind of experience that first tee emotion, so, I mean, I think it's a good thing. I'm just going to like absorb everything and all the energy. Yeah, just let it fire me up. And, yeah, it's just going to be -- yeah, I can't even imagine the noise that's going to be on that first tee. Yeah, especially us playing in Europe. But, yeah, hopefully we can get the trophy and have a good night on Sunday.
Q. And then just looking at your LPGA Tour rookie season this year as a whole, we're a little bit over halfway through, can you reflect on the season so far and what you're looking forward to through the rest the year?
MIMI RHODES: I think I've had an okay season. I mean, I had some good results at the beginning of the year. Kind of fell off in the middle of the year.
It's just like the courses are so different than the courses I was so used to on the LET. It's such different grass. You're learning so much every week. I think I just put too much expectation on myself, especially my first year. You're used to winning on the LET and you come out here and all of a sudden it just becomes so hard.
So, yeah, I think it's just getting into my head too much. I had a good couple weeks in Europe and I think the game is trending, so I think I can feel some good results coming.
Q. Taking us back to this week, you've played a practice round, played in the pro-am. What do you think is going to be important for succeeding here at Columbia Edgewater?
MIMI RHODES: Driving it straight. Driving it straight. Kind of reminds me a bit of Sharon Heights Golf Course that we played.
So, yeah, I think driving straight, and, yeah, when you're in the fairway, it's pretty straightforward from there. Pretty short irons. I mean, the poana is pretty tough on the greens so I think it's important not to get frustrated when you hit a good putt and it goes off line. Yeah, I think just practicing that on the practice putting green, because in the afternoon it can definitely get a bit more bumpy on the greens.
But it's looking really pure out there and I'm really excited to play.
Q. Last one from me? Obviously and you Julia are pretty close friends; similar in age. Can you talk a bit about being on the Solheim Cup together as rookies?
MIMI RHODES: Yeah, she was the first person who texted me or I texted her the first and she was so excited. She was kind of angry that I was not at the party celebrating with her.
But, yeah, when we played the Dow together it was incredible vibes. She kind of made me like love golf again. It was just so much fun playing on a team with her. Yeah, I mean, hopefully we get paired together. Yeah, I'm just super excited to spend that week with her and, yeah, grow our friendship a bit more and, yeah, have good vibes.
Yeah, she's an incredible person, even better player, and just excited to see those bomb drives.
THE MODERATOR: Perfect. Thank you, Mimi.
MIMI RHODES: Thanks.
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