Esther Henseleit knows that preparation is key as she gets ready to make her Solheim Cup debut for the European Team at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
The German has had a spectacular summer clinching a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games before securing a spot on the European Solheim Cup Team.
Henseleit earned her spot on the team after finishing second on the LET Solheim Cup points list and is enjoying her time in the Team Europe environment.
“It means a lot,” she said. “It’s amazing to be here, to be part of this European team. It’s definitely been a wild summer.
“I played some good golf, so it’s nice to really have qualified for this team and that I didn’t need a pick. The last two days have been great. I already played nine holes. I can’t wait to get started.
“It’s been a lot of fun. I felt like my hard work over the last few years kind of paid off and everything came together a little bit. It’s been great to see some good results coming in.
“It definitely helps my confidence. As I said earlier, it’s great to have qualified for this team, to have earned my spot, and I’m really looking forward to this week as well.”
Henseleit is one of two rookies on the European Team – alongside Albane Valenzuela – and the 25-year-old has her fiancé Reece as her caddie this week.
With it being her debut, the 2019 LET Order of Merit winner has been experiencing a lot of firsts this week.
The two-time LET winner has received a lot of advice, but some of the best has been to make sure she is prepared before Solheim Cup week begins.
“It’s great to have Reece on my bag. He just obviously knows me so well and knows what to say when I get a bit nervous or when I get a bit quick or down on myself,” she continued.
“He just knows me so well, so he knows what to say in which moment. It’s just great to have someone with you all the time who really has your back.
“I think one really good piece of advice is just to come here prepared. Don’t expect to get loads of time to practice when you get here. Come to this tournament prepared and then take it pretty easy on the practice days so you’re ready to go on Friday.
“Being part of a team is what I’m most looking forward to. We play so much just for ourselves, so it’s great to have people behind you and you’re really a team and to experience that. The emotions are just so much higher this week, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
This isn’t Henseleit’s first taste of the Solheim Cup as she was part of the European Team at the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2017 alongside Swedes Maja Stark and Linn Grant.
She added: “It was pretty good for us because it was in the U.S. as well, and we got to watch the big Solheim after. I feel like we already have an idea of what the atmosphere is going to be like.
“I feel like that definitely prepared us for this week. It’s great to have us all here. We played so much junior golf together, and it’s really fun to share this week as well.”
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