COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

May 11, 2023

Aditi Ashok

Upper Montclair Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Aditi Ashok after her first round at the Cognizant Founders Cup. Really good round for you. Couple birdies on the card there and pretty steady. Take us through some of the highlights and decisions out there today.

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I think this course, you know, it's kind of narrow. I feel like coming from the west cost for the last few weeks, tree-lined and the rough is -- can be up in a few places.

So, yeah, feels like a narrow golf course, so just focusing on hitting the fairways. That was the key for me. Even if I wasn't hitting two in the greens or trying to hit long on the par-5s, which is what I usually do, today I was just focusing on accuracy and it worked out.

I think I hit most of the fairways. 1 I missed in a fairway bunker and managed to make birdie. Yeah, driving was good. I had a couple bad swings there I guess. On 16 I hit it right so couldn't make up and down. Three-putted on 1.

Apart from that, I think it was steady. Even the bogey was when I hit the green, so, yeah, I was in position all day. Could have holed a few more putts, but I think I did good overall.

Q. This course, very different from Wilshire Country Club where you had a lot of success a couple weeks ago. What is it about your game that's consistent throughout every week?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, last two weeks obviously I've been playing well. I think I've been putting well the last couple weeks, so that's helped.

Yeah, I think it is different from Wilshire, but it's still poa greens so I feel like putting-wise I haven't had tom change much. They're obviously much faster here this week and really pure greens, so I think that's helped.

I holed a few putted outside of eight feet. I think I holed four or five, which is pretty good for me.

So, yeah, I think some things are different but I guess when you're playing well, sometimes it doesn't really matter which course, if you like it or you don't. Sometimes if you're playing good you end up playing good. It's still golf at the end of the day.

Q. Did you play here last year?

ADITI ASHOK: Yes, I did.

Q. What were some of your memories from the course and from this event last year?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, feels like I'm playing different course, kind of a different course. Last year I was obviously not hitting as long and physically I was a bit tired I guess.

Yeah, it's playing different this time. And, yeah, a bit shorter because obviously I'm hitting longer.

So I barely made the cut. I think I finished in the bottom half. Still just the fact that I made the cut last year, I guess some good memories there.

Q. Last question here: Had an off week last week. How did you spend your off week? Working on anything?

ADITI ASHOK: No, not really. I didn't really play golf or anything. Just went to the gym. Yeah, went by pretty quick. Yeah, I had a canceled flight so I was stuck in a different city for a day. By the time I got here it was like Wednesday. So, yeah, five days went by pretty quick.