You often hear golfers talk about how important it is to get off to a fast start in the new season, and no one has put that into practice better this year than Indian star Aditi Ashok.

The two-time Olympian clocked up a sensational runaway victory in the Ladies European Tour 2023 opener in Kenya, and followed that up with another stellar performance, finishing third behind Swedish duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant in Morocco.

On her third outing  of the season this week at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, she showed no signs of letting up as she opened with an impressive seven-under 65 to sit one back from joint-leaders Pajaree Anannarukarn and world No. 1 Lydia Ko.

“Today was a good day,” the modest 24-year-old said just outside Jeddah in the Kingdom on Thursday. “I think early on I hit a couple bad drives, but I managed to save par on those holes. I think I knew it was one of those days, that, even if you don’t hit a good shot, things were working out for me today, so glad I was able to capitalise on that.”

From Kenya to Morocco to Saudi Arabia — Aditi has clocked up the miles and performed outstandingly over three very different courses so far this season.

“I am not sure why it is all clicking,” she admitted. “Possibly the two months off and practising a lot, rather than competing has helped. I think I have played here three times before, so I know the golf course a little bit, and maybe that familiarity helps me feel comfortable here.

The confidence keeps growing each week for Ashok, too.

“I wasn’t even in the field this week until I won in Kenya,” she said. So definitely having that win and even third place last week on a tough golf course, I feel that was pretty good.

“This week the field is really strong, so I was excited to see how my game was. As I said, today was a great day, but there are still three more rounds to go.”