European Solheim Cup rookie Esther Henseleit had to change her caddie just hours before her first match on Friday morning.
She was set to play with Charley Hull against Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz but found out Thursday night that her usual caddie, Reece Phillips, wouldn’t be there.
Phillips is not just Henseleit’s caddie; he’s also her coach and boyfriend. They’ve been together since February 2018 when he joined her team as a swing coach.
Their partnership has seen success, including two wins at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in 2022 and 2024. Henseleit also snagged silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and had strong finishes in major tournaments like the Chevron Championship and Evian Championship.
Unexpected Caddie Change:
But on Friday, Phillips told Henseleit he couldn’t carry her bag for the Solheim Cup. He was replaced by David Jones, who usually works with Ruoning Yin. The reason for Phillips’ absence remains a mystery.
Jones, from Derry in Northern Ireland, has an impressive resume. He’s worked on both the European Tour and LPGA Tour for about ten years. He’s helped players like In Gee Chun and Sung Hyun Park win three Major titles and has also supported Lydia Ko and Leona Maguire.
Fans might wonder how this last-minute change affected Henseleit’s performance.
Despite Jones’ experience, he couldn’t help Henseleit secure a point for Team Europe at the Solheim Cup. She and Hull lost 3&2 to Korda and Corpuz.
Henseleit did have some good moments though, like a great tee shot on the par-3 11th hole. But two balls rolling into the water on a par-5 hole gave America the upper hand.
Korda and Corpuz quickly finished off the match, earning USA’s first point in what was a strong start for them.
What do you think about this unexpected twist?
