Shooting star Henseleit at the Solheim Cup – A dream comes true | NDR.de – Sport

Golf as a team sport – always something special and very popular with players who otherwise almost always fight for victory alone. From Friday to Sunday, the most important team competition in the world is on the program: In Gainesville in the US state of Virginia, the twelve best players from the USA will play against the twelve best from Europe for the Solheim Cup.

And for the first time, Esther Henseleit, who sensationally won Olympic silver a few weeks ago and has now fulfilled another big dream, is part of Team Europe.

“I’m really excited and can’t wait. I don’t know exactly what to expect, but it’s going to be very special,” said the 25-year-old, referring to the women’s equivalent of the men’s Ryder Cup. “I don’t care who I play with or against – but I’m sure I’ll be very nervous on the first tee. And yet it will definitely be fun.”

Europe will triumph for the fourth time in a row

As a newcomer, Henseleit has little to lose – even if Europe wants to win the cup for the fourth time in a row, which would be a first in the history of the competition.

The 6,132-meter-long course suits her strength, the long game. She also enjoys the match play format. Numerous friends have announced that they will be supporting her – and she is well prepared for the Solheim Cup and its very special atmosphere.

“The Olympics were a very good test to see how good your nerves are on such a big stage,” said Henseleit, who made it into the team in the final sprint of qualifying thanks to Olympic silver and second place a week later at the Scottish Open. “I always enjoy playing in front of a lot of people. But it will be a different experience than at the Olympics. Everyone was cheering me on there – now almost everyone will be against me,” she said, looking at the US audience.

Silence the audience if possible

Her teammates have already helped her fight against her nervousness: ten of the twelve players who held the trophy in their hands a year ago are also in Gainesville. Alongside Henseleit, Albane Valenzuela (Switzerland) is the second debutant.

“I’ve been talking to the experienced players again and again recently,” revealed Henseleit, who has only taken part in one edition for the juniors in 2017: “And some of them think that there is nothing better than silencing the spectators.”

The careful planning of European captain Suzann Pettersen (Norway) could also help. The team candidates, including Henseleit, were already there in the spring to train and get to know each other better.

Now the dream that Henseleit has had since 2015 is coming true. Back then, she was there “the whole time” as a young spectator at the Solheim Cup in St. Leon-Rot. “From then on, it was my goal to be there myself at some point,” said the two-time winner on the European Tour: “Now I definitely want to win the cup and collect as many points as possible for it.”

Where will the Olympic medal go?

Afterwards they will deal with a very special “problem”: What to do with the silver medal from Paris? “I always had it in my luggage and had to look after it,” said the Friesian-born, Who lives in the popular professional golfer’s residence in Scottsdale, Arizona: “I have to think about a place for the medal – I definitely don’t want to leave it lying openly in my apartment.”

Perhaps the next big award for Henseleit will come on Sunday with the Solheim Cup. That would really be the crowning glory of an extraordinary year.