LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

February 5, 2022

Aditi Ashok

Crown Colony Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Aditi Ashok after an outstanding final round, 9-under par 63. You said a career best with that score on the LPGA Tour. How good were you striking it today and how good did it feel to put that round together?

ADITI ASHOK: I was putting really good. I think that's what helped. I made -- almost every chance I got I made the putt, which was great.

I wasn't hitting it as good as I wanted to. I feel like I was not in control most of the time, so I was holing like 10-, 20-footers. Still, the putting worked, so it was a good day.

Q. Career best, bogey-free. When you put it into perspective, how did it come about?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I shot 62 once in European Q-School, so I kind of had that feeling today birdieing three of the first five.

I feel like the last few years every time I have had a hot start I haven't really kept it going, I've kind of tried it guard the score. So I was just telling myself to not think about the score and just birdie every hole I can.

Yeah, I mean, I was just trying to birdie every hole. Obviously couple tees were moved up and the drivable par-4 helped, but, yeah, I think the aggressive mindset is what did it for me.

Q. I don't know that I've ever seen anyone shoot 63 and say. I didn't hit it that well.

ADITI ASHOK: I think I was kind of playing with a draw. Well, I was calling it a hook but my dad was being nice and he was calling it a draw. Yeah, I was turning the ball right to left a lot.

After a couple holes I was just like, I just have to play with that today, and I think it worked well.

Q. That really speaks well for your putter obviously. How many putts do you think you made that were normally ones you would say, Eh, I should two-putt here?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I think a couple of them were like 25 feet, close to 30 feet. I think the one on 17 was like 30 feet. That's not usual for me. Those you're just trying to make a two-putt.

I think one on the front somewhere was kind of long as well. Apart from that, I was creating enough chances. Just, yeah, so apart from that they were all within 15 feet.

Q. There are always days where you stand over a putt and you just think, Well, yeah, I can make this. It looks like a bucket out there.

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah.

Q. Was this one of those days?

ADITI ASHOK: No. I mean, almost. I would say pretty close to one of those days. I still missed three-putts which were 10 to 15 feet. When I think about that, if I just look at my percentage, 10 to feet 15, I guess it's obviously great, but I still missed three of them where they were kind of similar putts that I had had the whole day.

I'm greedy, so I feel like I should have made those three. It was still a good putting day for me.

Q. How many greens did you hit today, do you know? 14?

ADITI ASHOK: 14, I yeah. I think hitting the greens is what does it for me, because I've always been a good putter, it's just when you're putting for par it's hard to make a score.

So I think I've been working a lot on hitting greens and I did that last week at Gainbridge and today obviously. The last two days I could have done better, but I think that's a key for me going into this year.

Q. How do you take a round like this and build some momentum going forward?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I think it's -- obviously I know I have it in me. I finished 10-under over three days so I know I had it. Nine of those birdies were just on one day, so I know I have the good scores in me. It's just about putting three or four good rounds together.

Obviously I'm playing with the best girls in the world so it's obviously hard every week. If I can just do my best, I think it's good enough out here.

I spent like four, five years thinking that my game wasn't as good. I think a few years ago I wouldn't even think that a 63 was possible. I think just that belief in myself that I can shoot low numbers on this tour is what is taking me forward.

Q. What is your schedule going forward?

ADITI ASHOK: Thailand. I don't think I'm in Singapore, but Thailand and then back to the west coast.

Q. If you could just talk about kind of the welcoming nature of Crown Colony, how you felt the members received us this week.

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, it was great obviously. It's different. I haven't played a lot in Florida, but I think this is one of the most unique courses I have played in Florida. It's short but firm; the greens obviously felt different compared to like last week. I don't know what exactly the grass -- maybe it is, maybe it is different.

Q. It is, it's paspalum.

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, that's what it was. I don't know the technical term, but, yeah it felt different. So, yeah, I think it was nice to play a different golf course and I'm grateful to the members that they hosted us and made us feel welcome all week.

Q. To touch a little more on your schedule, where will you practice and get ready for the Asian swing?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I'm going back to India to get my U.K. visa, so anyway I have to go back for three weeks. I think three weeks at home will be good. Get some good exercise in and practice in.

I feel like my short game wasn't as sharp the last two weeks. Maybe work on that a little bit, and then head to Thailand and then San Diego and Chevron.

Q. That's not like going from here to Miami.

ADITI ASHOK: No, no, it's going home.

Q. It's kind of globe hopping.

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, but this was always going to be like a two-week trip. I have three weeks off, so I guess it's not too bad. I guess I'm used to it by now.