- Unexpected medal: golfer Henseleit takes silver
Esther Henseleit has sensationally won silver at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first German golfer to claim a medal. A strong final round of six under par saw the 25-year-old from Hamburg climb to a medal position with a total of 280 shots. Starting the fourth and final round five shots behind bronze in 13th place, Henseleit remained unfazed and began her round with two birdies. Further birdies at the sixth and ninth holes, and a bogey-free run on the challenging 15th, culminated in birdies on the last two holes to secure her silver medal.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko, who won silver in 2016 and bronze in 2021 in Tokyo, took gold with a total of 278 shots. China's Lin Xiyu secured bronze with 281 shots. Berlin's Alexandra Försterling finished 35th with 292 shots.
Golf for women was first played at the Olympics in 1900, then removed from the program and reinstated in 2016. South Korea's Park In-bee won in Rio de Janeiro, while the USA's Nelly Korda triumphed in Tokyo. The 26-year-old world number one is the daughter of former Czech tennis star Petr Korda.
The challenging Albatros course at Golf National, where the 42nd Ryder Cup was held in 2018 under Captain Thomas Bjørn's leadership, saw Europe secure a decisive victory over the USA.
The Olympic Games featured golf for women once again in 2016, after an absence from the program. Esther Henseleit's silver medal at the recent Olympic Games in Paris marks a significant milestone for German golf.
