Q. Here with Aditi Ashok. I mean, what a way to finish your 2021 season, making a birdie on the last hole to post a 13-under after a really impressive 6-under 64. Just take us through your day today.
ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, it was really good day. I think I really played well yesterday, which is what kind of got it going for me. Obviously I holed a lot putts today, but I think the key was getting that many birdie putts, which I did yesterday.
I missed a few yesterday, but I knew I'm hitting the ball good, so if I could do that today and holed some putts, then it would be a low round.
But it started slow. I think I missed a few opportunities on the front nine, but back nine I kept doing the same thing but I made all the birdie putts, which helped.
Q. When you're off to a slow start, how do you keep yourself in the moment and saying, okay, I can actually get some of these to roll in?
ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I mean, obviously this late into the year, it's last event, but I was still trying to motivate myself because I was outside the top 80 and I really wanted to get in that top 80 so that I would qualify for the first major of the year.
I had that on my mind all week, and hopefully I've played well enough to do that.
Q. You're going to be pretty close if not right on it, so congratulations.
ADITI ASHOK: Thank you.
Q. Let's talk about your year as a whole. It's been a breakout year for Aditi Ashok.
ADITI ASHOK: Yeah.
Q. Playing in the Tokyo Olympics, getting some notoriety there. What was that experience like?
ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, it was a great experience. I think having that many people from India watch me play golf, because although I've played on the LPGA five seasons and I've won in Europe, I don't think as many people in India have watched me actually play golf.
This time people woke up at like 4:00 am because I was in the leader group and they watched me play, especially the final two days.
So I think that was great for golf in India, and I think it's good that I made use of the opportunity. I think if I'd finished fourth anywhere else it may not have had that impact, but fourth at the Olympics was really good for golf in India.
Q. What's it been like to go from all of a sudden being out here for five seasons and people kind of know what you do, and now they really understand the impact you're having?
ADITI ASHOK: Yes.
Q. What's it been like to have that new fan base rise up behind you?
ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, it's been great, because golf isn't an big in India. It's definitely not one the top sports. So I think bringing that awareness and having people check -- and we've also always had men golfers playing on bigger tours, but we haven't had as many women the past few years.
So it's great to have people know that there are girls out here and I'm on the LPGA. Maybe get that following as well.
Q. Solid end to your week here at Pelican Women's Championship. I mean, overall what grade would you give yourself for this year?
ADITI ASHOK: I think it didn't start out as good as I hoped, and then I caught COVID in May, June I guess. So, yeah, it looked -- didn't look like a great year.
I think the second half of the year has been amazing. I think I learned a lot about myself, because physically and game-wise I don't even think I had my best stuff, but just mentally being able too pull through, whether it's playing at the Olympics and being able to compete with the world No. 1 or Lydia Ko, who was a past medalist.
You know, just being in that position and being able to hold my own against them, and I think after that, coming back here and having a top 10 in Arkansas and playing good this week, it's just been great stuff.
I know that my game is good enough to be out here. I think it's -- you always doubt yourself, you know, on tour because all the girls here are so good. Yeah, it's good to have that validation.
Q. What lessons are you taking from 2021 and then putting them in the off-season and working on to get better for next year?
ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I think I've lost a lot of strengths this year obviously since the I fell sick and I had that two month off in the middle of the season.
So obviously working on gaining back that strength, and hopefully hit it a bit further when the season starts.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports