AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 1, 2026

Esther Henseleit

Mixed Zone

Q. Esther, round of 4-under today to move into the top 10 on the leaderboard. You said yesterday your ball striking was really good. How was it out there today?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, very good again. Very solid. Didn't really get in too much trouble which is kind of the key to this golf course.

Yeah, managed to hole some good putts today, so, yeah, very happy with my result.

Q. I was going to say, on the coverage we saw the different length of your putts. What makes you able to read these greens so well?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I really don't know. I feel like there are so many subtle little breaks and normally we maybe play greens with bigger slopes so you just have to trust your line and maybe give it a little bit more pace than you're used to and yeah, just focus.

I mean, you have so many long putts so your speed has to be really good. I feel like if there is a strength in my putting the speed control on the long ones is that, so I guess it kind of suits my game.

Q. Obviously moving day. You've moved yourself up the leaderboard. Is there anything different today than the last two days in your game or in the conditions?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Not really. I would say just a couple long putts I made really. Other than that, it was pretty similar. Made some up and downs today which I maybe haven't done the last couple days, so, yeah, overall pretty similar.

Q. And we spoke yesterday about the crowds and how great they are in the UK. Thoughts on that today?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, it's fun to go out there and play. The weather has been perfect. Just what you kind of wish for playing links golf: Some sun and wind; firm conditions.

So I think they're all having a great time, and the atmosphere kind of makes it even more fun to play as well.

Q. I know you're contending in a major championship now, but how much is the Solheim Cup playing on your mind this week?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, of course. It's the last week for the qualifying and I really want to be part of that team. I feel like last week helped.

And, yeah, of course I'm hoping that my good play this week will secure my spot on the team.

Q. Went out in 31; that's quite a feat on any links golf course, but particularly this one with those precariously placed pot bunkers. When you get on a tear like that of birdies, what's the mentality that allows something like that to happen?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I mean, you just have to keep going. There are so many good golfers out here. You know that it's not going to be enough that if you make one or two birdies. You just have to keep going.

Yeah, I mean, I would say the first nine holes are probably the easier ones, so I kind of want to take advantage of that, take advantage of the par-5s and the shorter holes.

So, yeah, very happy I managed to do that today.

Q. What's been your course management strategy for the week? It's obviously paying off.

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I mean, staying out of the bunkers. I feel like it's been pretty similar for every player. Feel like maybe a little more conservative than I would like to be at some point, but, yeah, you just have to stay of the bunkers otherwise you add one shot for sure.

Q. The field is backed up a little bit to you. What's the mindset going into tomorrow, whether you're chasing or near the top of the board?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Just the same thing really. Because it is so tough you just have to think about every shot and really concentrate on every shot. Yeah, that's going to be my goal for tomorrow.