England's Mimi Rhodes carded an opening eight-under-par round of 64 for a share of the lead at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.
Rhodes had a breakout season in 2025, winning three times on the Ladies European Tour as well as finishing second in the Order of Merit, while she clinched Rookie of the Year honours and earned her LPGA Tour card via Q-School.
The 24-year-old from Taunton rolled in birdies on the second, fifth and seventh holes on the front nine before adding further birdies at 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16.
Korea's Hye-Jin Choi shares the lead with Rhodes after rolling in six birdies on the front nine, with her only dropped shot of the day coming at the ninth.
Japan's Chizzy Iwai is in solo third place, one shot back after a seven-under first round of 65 in Riyadh.
Two players are in a share of fourth place, with Belgium's Manon De Roey and Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit both six under.
"Clearly a lot went well for me today," Rhodes said, after earning a share of the lead. "Having had so much time off [over the winter break], I was a bit nervous at the start. I left a few putts short, but the game felt really solid.
"I missed a few greens on the front nine, but I made some up-and-downs. On the back nine, I just forgot about my score and was trying to make as many birdies as I could. I don't think I missed a green on the back nine, so everything was feeling good. My putting was on point.
"I think the course is the best that it's ever been for me. The greens have improved so much, they're rolling so nice and I just got used to the speed of them early on and focused a lot on the practice rounds.
"I was looking at breaks and the speed of the greens, and it paid off today. I'm feeling comfortable with my game overall."
