The Solheim Cup is just around the corner – and Esther Henseleit, our Olympic silver medalist from Paris, is passionate about the development of women's golf. The 27-year-old golfer emphasizes how significantly the sport has grown. “It’s fantastic that we are more visible today and that girls starting golf now can follow us on TV and social media,” says Henseleit. “Globally, we have developed very strongly; it's also taking off in Germany.”
When she herself started playing in 2008, almost only men's golf was broadcast on TV. “What really helped back then was Martin Kaymer,” Henseleit recalls. “He played incredibly well; he was the game-changer for my generation: He showed that it was possible to compete at the top, even from Germany.” In women's golf? Back then, the Solheim Cup was the only event that was even broadcast.
“A real highlight back then,” she emphasizes. She will feel this excitement again during her second participation, starting this Friday, at Bernardus Golf in North Brabant, Netherlands. “It almost feels like a home game; we're only three and a half hours away from my hometown,” Henseleit says. “My whole family will be there!”
Of course, the pulse races more before such events than at regular tournaments, but the native of Lower Saxony from the Friesland district has grown accustomed to the spotlight over the years. “I love it: this tension helps me to focus,” she says. “Fortunately, in golf, spectators cheer you on and want you to play well. So, we play amidst positive energy, which provides pure enjoyment.”
