WOMEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 6, 2024

Aditi Ashok

Le Golf National

Quick Quotes

Q. It has been a injury any to get to these Paris Olympics. I want you to talk me through from final put Sunday of Portland to how you got to Paris.

ADITI ASHOK: Oh, yeah, it was actually funny because on the third day, I played really well, and I was like 6-under on the front nine, and ended up just 7-under on the day. But missed a few birdies towards the end of the third round, and it's funny when the tee times came out for Sunday, I was like, okay, maybe it worked out that I missed -- I holed a lot on Saturday, still but I missed a couple and I was like, oh, maybe that made sense because I had just about enough time to get to the flight.

Yeah, when I holed out eventually, my dad -- well, my caddie, obviously my dad, but he just went straight to the car to pack the golf bag. I submitted the card and I was like, okay, just make sure I sign it because I didn't want to forget.

Yeah, then I just got to the car, packed my golf bag, had a shower and I think we were in the airport within 30 minutes of holing my last putt which was actually convenient because the airport is right there in Portland. Catching the flight was the hardest part. Once I got there, I was exhausted and slept on the flight and when I got here yesterday, I was fine. I got here yesterday evening and I slept, too, so it isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Q. I want to confirm this. This is what your dad was telling me earlier. You had a 7.00 PM flight out of Portland. You landed around 12.45-ish in Heathrow, rechecked your bags, got on a 5.00 --

ADITI ASHOK: I think it was 5.30 flight.

Q. Which was delayed.

ADITI ASHOK: Yes, which was delayed. So that was a bit of a bummer because we thought we would get here by like 7.00 but we got here closer to 8.00. So it must be 7.30. So it must be 8.15, 8.20 when we got our bags. It wasn't too bad. I didn't have plans to come to the course or anything.

Q. So what time did we get to our hotel last night?

ADITI ASHOK: 11.00. I had to go to the Village to get my accreditation. They couldn't do it at the airport, so I had to do it at the vail ladies and gentlemen. That was like an extra hour of driving, I feel. But eventually got into the room at like 11.00.

Q. I feel like this isn't a new thing. I feel like I've talked to you when you're on the road for ten weeks straight.

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah.

Q. I've talked to you when you're on the road for maybe one, which is few and far between. But overall, getting here, I mean, how excited were you to get here to Paris, even if you only had one day of practise?

ADITI ASHOK: Oh, yeah, for sure, I am super excited. These events I think are so much different than a regular event. So many people back home watch golf just because it's in the Olympics. So it's like a different demographic of people who get to watch me play which is cool.

Yeah, I know I got here kind of late but I did play a couple practise rounds a month ago. So I'm not flying blind essentially. I am excited.

Q. Did you come after Evian?

ADITI ASHOK: Before Evian. So hopefully -- I feel like some stuff would have changed, and I need to figure that stuff out today. Yeah, I don't think I'm as under-prepared as maybe people would think I am.

Q. When it comes to just the Olympic experience, obviously I know how much it's meant to you to have your parents on the bag. Your mom last year; your dad in 2016. Your dad is back for 2024. Was there competition there of mom did fourth place last time, so he's got one up?

ADITI ASHOK: Not for me because for me it's more what I'm used to. The last couple years, he's been caddying regularly. So for me for my performance I felt like that would work.

I'm sure between them there's some competition and I'm sure they are trying to better each other's results.

Q. Overall, what are you most excited about teeing it up this week?

ADITI ASHOK: I think this golf course. Heard a lot about it. Watched a lot of golf played here but never actually played it in competition. So I think that will be really cool.

It's an interesting course, and I feel like it can get challenging because although it seems wide and the greens seem big, I feel like they are narrower than you think.

So I think that will be cool and fun.