WOMEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 6, 2024

Ashley Lau

Le Golf National

Quick Quotes

Q. You've already been here for a week so you're really getting the most of the Olympic experience. But just overall, what is it like being here in Paris over the last couple of days?

ASHLEY LAU: I think it's been great. Calling myself an Olympian still hasn't really sunk in. I think it will probably -- I'll probably soak everything in once it's done but right now, just feels like any other tournament.

Yeah, I'm ready for it to start and I can't wait for it to start.

Q. I know you first had the opportunity to walk or established during the Opening Ceremonies. What was that day and night like and what stands out to you the most?

ASHLEY LAU: It was really fun other than the rain. I think it was really cool because I think the athletes on the boat, we were all getting rained on and we were getting cold. But like my arm was getting numb, like waving. But seeing the fans still sitting there in the rain and just sucking it up, and I was like, it was very energizing just seeing them still cheering for everyone. It energized me to still wave.

Q. Keep it going?

ASHLEY LAU: That's right. It was one more the memory books for sure.

Q. Did you meet anyone you didn't expect to meet?

ASHLEY LAU: I didn't meet him but I saw Carlos Alcaraz from very far away, from the Malaysian building I saw him watching into the Spain building. I saw Simone Biles. Did not expect to see her. Just these really cool athletes you don't get to see in real life, I think that's really cool.

Q. Just about becoming an Olympian with the rankings, when did it feel real to you that you could potentially be representing Malaysia?

ASHLEY LAU: So I kind of almost knew. I never check the rankings but I had people keep asking me about it. But it didn't really feel real until honestly I was on the flight to Paris.

Yeah, all the preparation and all that, my mind was distracted because I was still playing on Epson, so I couldn't get jacketed from that, too, because obviously my goal, too, is to get my LPGA card.

But this week it's nice because feels like I have a little distraction from getting the LPGA card. Golf has been kind of tough the last couple months. So yeah, just kind of taking a little breather, and I think this tournament or the Olympics has been helping because it just feels like I'm in a dream, and yeah, just kind of he escape reality for a little bit.

Q. I think also, just in general, what are you most looking forward to, as much as it is a regular stroke play competition, what are you most looking forward to teeing it up at Le Golf National?

ASHLEY LAU: I think on Epson, you don't really get as big of a crowd out there. So it would be something very new. Not that I've never done it before, on the very rare occasion, but it's just a big crowd out there. I think these few days, I'm going to like mentally prepare myself. Kind of going through my head like that first tee shot. I think that will be really nerve-wracking for me but I think also one that people dream to be in the position -- in that position.

Yeah, I think just really looking forward to playing in front of my family.

Q. Who is here with you?

ASHLEY LAU: My siblings are here and my cousin. My older brother and my younger sister. My parents are not coming unfortunately but my boyfriend's parents are going to be here, too. So that will be cool, and a few of my teammates are flying out from Michigan. They are actually flying out to see me play. That will be really cool.

Q. When you learned that you were going on an Olympian and coming over here, I feel like family always want to come, but what has the response been like from Malaysia and maybe people you don't know?

ASHLEY LAU: Yeah, I think it's cool, I get a lot of DMs on Instagram, like "Good luck"; "Do Malaysia proud." They probably don't realise it because it's only a text for me but for me to receive so many of that kind of text, it's really heartwarming. I think for a lot of us playing in the Olympics, it's bigger than just us.

Like we are doing it for us, for our family, country. That's such an honour. I think, yeah, this is something bigger than just us. So I think that's really cool.

Q. Just lastly, have you been able to watch any of the guys?

ASHLEY LAU: Yeah, so I went out yesterday. I saw Rory and Jason Day. I think they were playing together. So I kind of walked through the front nine to see a bit of the course, as well. I got to see different groups playing. I think that's really cool. Honestly just walking past them, I think that's super cool, because I don't get to see them, right. Saw Scottie. He was putting. I was like, wow, super starstruck. I think it's just a really cool experience.