FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 26, 2026

Esther Henseleit

Whirlwind Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Joined now by Esther here after her first round to the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. Really solid bogey-free round from you today. Take us through the round?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, as you said, just really solid golf. Didn't really make many mistakes. Hit a lot of greens and the greens that I did miss were like just off the green, like a couple feet.

So I think I only had two chips once today, which is quite nice.

Yeah, just enjoyed it out there. Rolled some good putts. I do feel like it wasn't my best day tee to green but the putter definitely helped me out today.

Q. A little bit of a home game for you this week. How does it feel to be playing back in Arizona?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: It's great. It's great to be sleeping in my own bed. Yeah, there are some people out supporting me from my club. It's just great. I'm used to this climate. I like the heat and the conditions are just what I'm used to practicing in practice.

So it's great to be here.

Q. Does it help or hinder your preparation process knowing you get to stay at home? When you're on the road you know you're on the road. When you're home you're a little bit more relaxed.

ESTHER HENSELEIT: It's a bit different for sure. I do try to still like keep my routine up. I came down here Monday, Tuesday, and yesterday to practice. I do feel like it is helping me this week because I've been playing a lot. Like I played all of Asia and when I played last week as well. I do feel like I'm getting some better rest in this week.

I do feel like it helps me.

Q. Couple events into the season. You said you played a lot of Asia this year. How does the game feel right now?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: It feels really good. I worked really hard on my swing this offseason and I do feel like it's in a really good place, probably the best I've ever swung the golf club.

So, yeah, really happy with my progress there feel like the rust from the offseason is definitely off now, and, yeah, just enjoying it.

Q. Seeing a ton of low scores this week or today and hopefully the rest of the week. What's going to be the key to success to keep yourself toward the top and hopefully get a win under your belt?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, definitely score on the par-5s out here. They're pretty short and gettable so that's definitely a key to making some easy birdies.

This morning definitely played a lot softer than the practice days so it's going to be interesting to see if it actually firms up. Then it's definitely not easy anymore.

Yeah, just see what the conditions are and just play my best.