AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 2, 2026

Esther Henseleit

Mixed Zone

Q. Esther, let's start in regulation. Take us through the final putt. That had to be magic.

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, I mean, it was a very confusing putt to be honest, and it was going right to left and everything.

Yeah, the last three feet it was tracking and I was, oh, okay it might actually go in. Yeah, it was a great moment when that putt dropped in.

Q. Did you see Reece's reaction and what did you two say to each other going back up the 18th?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, I mean, I saw the second half of his celebration and that was still pretty fun to watch. Yeah, very happy with how I gave myself the opportunity to win today and how I handled myself. Just got a bit unlucky on the second playoff hole there.

Yeah, I tried really hard and I guess it just wasn't meant to be today.

Q. I don't feel like you've stopped smiling. What does this moment mean to you to share it with him, to play your way -- I know you were already on the Solheim Cup team -- but probably to earn your way in points now, what does this all mean to you?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, it's great. It's always fun to play good golf and to be in contention, and that it's here in England and the fans were amazing today. So it was just a great experience and I really enjoyed it.

Q. Could you describe the pressure of being in a playoff and you walk up to your ball on the second playoff hole and that's the lie you get? How difficult is that?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I mean, you just have to focus on the next shot. She made a great up and down in the first -- on the first playoff hole and we just said, okay, let's try to get this back into the fairway and give ourselves a chance.

Yeah, didn't manage to save par in the end, but, yeah, you just have to focus on the next putt. We play under pressure every week. Of course it's maybe kind of a bigger stage, but it's still only golf.

Q. Does it give you sort of hope that now you've been in this position that you can -- you'll take things from this week...

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, I mean, I definitely try to learn out of this experience, out of the whole week really. How I managed to turn the momentum today, and, yeah, I think there is a lot of things I can be proud of today.

Yeah, overall just probably going to talk to my team and reflect on the whole week and see what we can learn for next time.

Q. What was the mindset going into Friday? Didn't have a sniff at it; 67 yesterday; and to do that today.

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, going into Friday, the first point was kind of making it to the weekend. I didn't have a great first day and then just played really solid; managed to make some putts.

And, yeah, I didn't think when I finished yesterday that I was going to be in the final group either, so, yeah, just kind of taking it as it comes.

Today was fun. Of course there is like a couple shots I maybe could have done better and if I could have them back, sure, I would take it. But, yeah, I tried my best on every shot and maybe next time.

Q. Last one from me: What's more nerving contending for Olympic medal or major, or are they comparable?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I think I was more nervous at the Olympics, but it was even more scary than this course probably. At this Olympics you just knew you were probably dropping if you miss one shot; here at least you're just chipping out, I guess.

But, no, I was actually pretty calm I would say. I'm probably more nervous the first few holes kind of getting into the rhythm. Then once I kind of got myself settled a little bit on the back nine, I really just enjoyed it and felt like I was just concentrating on myself.

Q. Could you just describe what it felt like to drain that putt?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Oh, it was a lot of fun. I hit it and it was kind of tracking. I was just hoping it was going to get there. I mean, I don't even know what my reaction was, but I saw like the second half of Reece's celebration and it was pretty fun to watch and to just hear everyone go crazy.

I think that's a moment I'll definitely remember for a long time.

Q. Do you remember raising your hand, like you almost early called it? Have you done that before?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I don't know. I was just like -- when I started doing that I was like, please don't lip out. (Laughter.) It would be like the most embarrassing early call ever.

But, yeah, it looked good all the time and I was really just hoping it was going to get there and fall in. Yeah, I guess you just can't really control what your reaction is going to be in that situation.

Q. When you got down there could you tell what had happened? Did it hit the marshal's as leg or do you know?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I have no idea. I thought it was further left to be honest. Must have gotten some kind of bad bounce. At least I still had a shot I guess, and could kind of get a good angle going into the green and didn't have to take an unplayable or something.

But, yeah, probably a bit unlucky there. That's just links golf.

Q. What's Reece's support mean to you?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Oh, it means everything. Without him I wouldn't be here. He's been caddieing for me for like, what, five years. Coaching me for five years as well. We have made so many improvements together, and, yeah, we're just a great team.

We also manage to enjoy each other's company 24/7 which is great. Yeah, it's just great memories we are able to create together.