HONDA LPGA THAILAND

February 23, 2024

Esther Henseleit

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Esther, second round here in Thailand. How are you feeling after two days of play?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Warm. No, I played good. It was very different the 4-under today compared to yesterday. Yesterday I was hitting my irons really close all the time; today I was kind of always in between numbers.

So it was pretty hard for me to get it close to the hole today, but I didn't really make any big mistakes so no bogeys on the scorecard. Just four pretty solid birdies.

Q. Take me through the birdies. What was working well on those holes?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: So on 5 it was probably the toughest pin position you can have, but we were -- it was a mixed number, the pin. It was a pitching wedge for me and I just pulled it a little bit and it was perfect; hit a tap-in.

Then reached 7 in two. Just two-putted for birdie.

Made up and down for birdie on 18.

Then holed like maybe a 15-footer on 16 just straight up the hill.

So, yeah, nothing dramatic but it was good to have some go in.

Q. I know it's the second week in a row with heat. I know it's a different type of heat, but how did your second place finish last week help continue that momentum going into the Asia Swing?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, I played really well last week. Definitely helps to go into this week with confidence and I know that I can hit it close and really give myself many chances.

So I was really looking forward to this course. I played well here two years ago, so it's great to be back. Yeah, I hope it goes well on the weekend.

Q. How much do you rely on something like your distance when there are the four par-5s that can be gettable in different situations.

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, it's a huge advantage if you can hit it a bit further off the tee here. I feel like I definitely gained some distance over the off-season, so it's nice to see that pay off here.

Yeah, we will see how they set it up on the weekend, if maybe 15 gets drivable and, I don't know, be maybe the others stay the way they are. So it's definitely a fun course.

Q. When it comes to coming back to a place where you've played well before what are you drawing on? Is it the past experience or is it just you're attacking it week by week?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I think it's just the vibe. Like I normally play well when it's warm, so you definitely get that here. It's a course where you can really take advantage of hitting good iron shots because you do get some narrow areas on the green. If you can control your irons, which is normally my strength, then you probably have a good chance here.

Q. How much of the Asia Swing are you playing?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Everything.

Q. Everything. What's it like -- obviously this isn't your first year on tour -- but being able to structure around the different temperatures and conditions and jet lag? How do you evaluate these weeks and prepare for them?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: For me, number one priority is getting enough sleep. Really when it's warm and traveling a lot, jet lag, you always need to sleep well. I try get to bed early every night and just eat well. I see my physio every day.

So just keep on top of how the body is feeling and I think it's nice to have a stretch of tournaments.