“We didn’t put any expectations on a medal. We didn’t want to bog ourselves down with that – we just wanted to enjoy it.” Esther Henseleit and her fiancé, and caddie Reece Phillips’s mindset paid off at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The couple set their sights on the Olympics eight years ago. After a shaky start (73-72), Henseleit rallied on Friday with birdies on 11, 14, 16, and 18. On Saturday, she made the turn in 32, hit a stellar shot on 17, and finished with a 300-yard drive on 18, setting up a two-putt birdie for silver. But what if we tell you, it wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for this one golf commentator.

Yes, we know you’re confused. Well, as we all know, Henseleit turned pro in 2019 after winning the bronze medal at the International Women’s Amateur Championship in 2016, but what if we tell you the player wasn’t sure of her career until she saw LPGA pro Mel Reid play. Don’t believe us? Hear from the golfer herself!

“I was at a golf tournament in Germany watching her once, and she gave me a ball. That experience inspired me to turn professional”, Henseleit said, speaking at the Black Dessert Championship. But that’s not the best part because Reid is now commentating for the same tournament, making it a full circle moment. “It’s pretty cool to have her out commentating on me now.”

And Reid acknowledges Henseleit’s feelings behind the excitement. “I don’t get emotional about many things, but when her fiancé told me this, I shed a little tear! Just a gentle reminder to always be kind. Ironically, I’m now commentating on her group this week, and she’s crushing it. It’s a cool moment for both of us, @esther_hen”, she wrote on her Instagram Story. Currently, Henseleit is sitting on T3 with a score of -15, trailing the leaders H. Ryu of South Korea at -18 and R. Yin of China at -16, both tied for the top spots.

But that isn’t the first time Reid has been a source of inspiration in the world of golf.

Mel Reid is an inspiration to many golfers for a reason

LPGA star Mel Reid is a shining example of an athlete using her platform to drive positive change against intolerance, injustice, and discrimination. After keeping her personal life private for years due to fear of losing sponsorships, Reid publicly came out as gay last December and became an Ambassador for Athlete Ally, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. “Being myself and using my platform to hopefully impact lives by telling my story is what I hope to accomplish,” she said. Reid’s decision to be open about her life has garnered widespread support, and she’s learned the importance of aligning with companies that share her values.

Reid’s passion for golf and equality is evident in her work ethic and guiding principle: “If you work easy, your life will be hard; and if you work hard, your life will be easy.” She believes golf teaches valuable life skills like discipline, etiquette, and sportsmanship. As an advocate for equality, Reid emphasizes the need to be confident and believe in oneself. “I want equality, and I’ll always fight for it, because it’s crucial for the people who come after me in the golf industry and elsewhere,” she said. By being true to herself and using her platform, Reid inspires others to do the same, making the golf industry and beyond a more inclusive and accepting place.