August 2021. “Are you watching golf? This cute Bengaluru girl....
She needs some birdies. With eagles, she could even win gold.”
“Bloody hell, somebody get her the damn birds. So, are they like good luck charms?”
Judgmental silence.
Google search: birdies eagles golf.
Even as I frantically read up on golf-related terms, the search term “golf rules” was at its peak in Google’s trends for India. The reason was Aditi Ashok. The unheralded golfer, who was ranked 178th in the world before Tokyo 2020, got off to a flying start at the Kasumigaseki Country Club’s East Course. The par―the number of strokes a proficient golfer would need to complete the course―was 71. Aditi finished the 18-hole course in 67 strokes in the first round―the same as the world number one Nelly Korda of the US.
In the second round, Aditi improved, finishing in 66, but Korda pulled ahead with a masterful 62. Aditi was joint second with two others. In the third round, things got more exciting as Korda stumbled and Aditi closed the gap, and went clear at second. On the fourth and final day, Aditi was unable to get under-par scores in the first four holes, allowing Rio 2016 silver medallist Lydia Ko of New Zealand to climb to the second place. Aditi recovered and got her birdies (one stroke under par; eagle is two strokes under par)―to stay in contention. But, narrowly missed birdies in the last two holes―the ball caressing the edge of the 17th hole―cost her a medal. (Korda won gold and Japan’s Mone Inami beat Ko in a silver-bronze play-off.)
Three years on, Aditi is a much-changed golfer. Her driving distances have visibly improved. This helps her get closer to the hole off the tee. She had the best year of her career in 2023, winning two events, finishing second in another two, third in one and in the top 10 in four more. She ended the year ranked 42nd and reached her best ranking of 39 in early 2024.
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However, she has had a less spectacular 2024, not finishing in the top 10 in 15 events. As a result, she has slipped to the 60th rank. She is also yet to win a golf major. At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, while she won a historic silver for India, she missed a great chance to win gold (losing a seven-stroke lead).
At Paris 2024, despite not being one of the favourites on paper, she is still a contender for the podium. One of the reasons is her strong short game. According to a report in ESPN, she is the seventh best putter in the world in 2024. Also, the Olympic field is generally weaker than professional events because of the restrictions on the number of golfers from a country. And, Aditi, 26, has shown that, on her day, she can hold her own against the best in the world. For instance, she finished above Korda, who is still the world No. 1, at a 2023 event.
So, at her best, Aditi is very much on a par with the rest of the field at Paris 2024. At Tokyo 2020, her strong start put her in medal contention. In Paris, too, it will be crucial to score under par, right from the off.