07 August 2021: Aditi Ashok produced an epic week of golf, the finest Indian sport has seen, before finishing in fourth behind Nelly Korda, Inami Mone and Lydia Ko. In the final round at the Kasumigaseki Country Club, playing early morning to finish ahead of the storm, Aditi shot a second straight 68 to finish just two behind Korda at 15-under 269. Diksha Dagar finished her week with a 70 in the final round, ending her campaign in her debut at the Olympics in T50.
Nelly Korda (69) kept her nerves through a tight final phase, before making an easy par on the final hole to secure a one shot victory over Inami Mone (65) and Lydia Ko (65).
Aditi was struggling off the tee on Saturday, finding it hard to dial her best. Even then, she produced some laser guided irons and impeccable putts to remain clear through the first four holes.
“I think today I didn’t really drive the ball very good and then it’s hard to get birdie putts or hit greens when you’re not in the fairway,” said the 23-year-old. “So, yeah, that was definitely the hardest part to make a score today.
“I didn’t leave anything out there, I think I gave it my hundred percent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals kind of sucks.”
She stepped it up a notch when she made three birdies in four holes to nudge her opponents into further discomfort. A double bogey at the 7th by Nelly meant that her runaway lead was finally evaporating, bringing all three women into the conversation for Gold.
The world No. 1 showed her class though as she responded with three straight birdies to restore a two shot cushion.
Meanwhile, bogeys at nine and eleven dampened Aditi’s challenge at the top relegating her into a battle for silver and bronze against Ko and Inami Mone.
Back to back birdies at 13 & 14 afforded Aditi an opportunity to press ahead, but she slid past the cup on both the 17 & 18 to end her chances of what may have been a historic medal in the Olympics.
Inami Mone defeated Lydia Ko in the playoff to take Silver. The New Zealand golfer took Bronze.
