Top golfer Aditi Ashok, who finished tied 26th at the US Women’s Open in Lancaster Country Club last week, feels there will be no favourites at the Paris Olympics in July-August this year. The 26-year-old Ladies Professional Golf Association regular is preparing her herself for the Summer Games with at least eight tournaments lined up, mostly in the US. It will be Aditi’s third Olympics having debuted for India at Rio 2016. In Tokyo 2020, she missed a medal after dominating for the first three days of the tournament.
The world’s best golfers, many of whom cross Aditi’s path at the challenging LPGA Tour every week, will be lining up at the Le Golf National, the venue of the Paris Games but the young India golfer seems undaunted by the field. Being a fiercely individual sport, focus and consistency will make the difference.
“I think it will have the best golfers in the world for sure. I don't know ‘how
Tough’ that would be exactly. I don't think it's possible to pick out players in golf. The game is such that any player can win that week if they play well enough. I think in golf your opponent is always yourself,” said Aditi, who has had a mixed year on the LPGA Tour so far.
In recent weeks, the performance at the US Women’s Open has been Aditi’s best but still below par to grab attention. Her eight-over 288 is a score that will need a lot of improvement and Aditi agrees.
“My results have been average, I would say. Have played good in streaks but not for all four days. I do feel I'm playing well so I'm looking forward to the summer events leading up to the Olympics. No special plans I would say,” Aditi, who is receiving INR 57 lakhs assistance from the Union sports ministry through the Target Olympics Podium Scheme for the Paris Olympics 2024 cycle, has been quoted as saying to SAI Media.
Aditi had a meltdown at Tokyo 2020. She missed a medal on the final day after three solid rounds. Paris 2024 will be redemption time. Aditi missed a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 and there have been questions on her ability to hold her nerves on big moments.
“I think I played some of my best golf in Tokyo. And I was hitting the ball so short that week that I don't think I could've done anything more to play any better. I think I was the most efficient with my game that week. So with Tokyo I gained a lot of confidence I would say and not much learning.
“With the Asian Games I played one of my worst rounds of the year on the final day. Which was after the best round of my life on the third day. So sometimes you fail and there's no reason as to why,” said Aditi, adding: “In 2023, I finished in the top 10 eight different times apart from winning twice. I think I could've won any of those eight tournaments too but people seem to remember only the Asian Games performance and not the others whether good or bad,” said the Bangalorean.
Winning an Olympic medal remains a top priority for the Aditi Ashok, who at 51st is the highest ranked Indian on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and placed 25th (out of 60) in the Race to Olympics rankings.
“I feel I've gotten better with all aspects of my game. Year 2023 especially was a great year performance wise and that's because I managed to pick up some distance in the off season last year. I would say winning a medal is pretty high up there in terms of career achievements,” said Aditi.
The golf competition at the Paris 2024 is still a couple of months away and Aditi is scheduled to play a series of events, including the Amundi Evian Championship in France from July 8-14. It is a Major event on the Ladies European Tour. Cracking consistent form, as she did in 2023, will be her biggest aim.
“I think if you have a solid foundation with your overall game, those (good) days will get more consistent. For me personally, game wise, I know hitting the ball further will help with proximity to the hole which will make me more consistent everyday so that's what I'm usually focusing on,” said Aditi.
I'm looking at each event with the same importance and trying to do my best for all four days each week. That should get me in a good frame of mind and routine before the Games and hopefully that will be enough at Paris Olympics,” said Aditi.