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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Asterisk Talley strolled into the Interview Room at the Augusta National Golf Club Press Building, took a look to her left and her eyes went wide.
"That's so cool," the 17-year-old exclaimed when she saw her stats listed on a big screen off to the side of the room. Talley analyzed the board before settling into her chair. A smile remained on her face. She didn't look the part of someone leading one of amateur golf's biggest championships, every minute ticking closer to the biggest first tee shot of her life, coming Saturday in the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
Talley is no stranger to the spotlight. Since she burst onto the scene at the 2024 U.S. Women's Open, she has become one of the world's best amateurs. She was a USGA champion at 15. She also finished runner-up at the U.S. Women's Amateur and U.S. Girls' Junior. She topped then-world No. 1 Lottie Woad in singles in the Curtis Cup. Now the top-ranked junior in the world, she's going for her fourth straight victory in amateur golf.
She's all smiles off the course, but as soon as Talley steps inside the ropes, she becomes a hunter. Saturday, her prize is the biggest title of her career. All Talley has between her and the finish line, the biggest moment of her stellar career, is 18 holes at perhaps the most famous golf course in the world.
"You only come to tournaments to win. I mean, why would you play one if you weren't going to win, right?" Talley said when asked about her confidence, which is perhaps her superpower.
Talley's mental fortitude sets her apart from her competitors. She's aggressive, firing at pins and swinging with brash confidence that many professionals only wish they could muster. It's a big part of why the high school junior sits at 11 under after the opening two rounds of the ANWA and has a one-shot lead going into the final round.
Last year at Augusta National, Talley signed for a final-round 68 and finished runner-up behind Carla Bernat Escuder. This year, she's again in a familiar spot in the final round: pacing the field to the finish line.
"Just thinking that I got here for a reason, so why can't I finish it off on the last day," Talley said of her ability to finish."
The ANWA is unlike any other tournament in that Talley has to sleep on the lead for two nights. That means dealing with an extra 24 hours of pressure trying to capture one of amateur golf's biggest titles.
An extra day to think of hoisting the trophy and trying not to let the mind wander. For Talley, Saturday could be her official crowning moment. No one questions her talent. The list of accomplishments on her resume is lengthy, especially for a 17-year-old. The only thing missing is the main course, the marquee victory that solidifies her standing among the world's best amateurs.
How much does Talley think ahead to what could be? It's impossible not to.
"I think I do allow myself to think about it a little bit, but I also try to kind of keep it on the low," she said. "I try not to overthink about it, obviously. But just thinking of how cool it would be to hoist that trophy tomorrow would be pretty nice, but I also try and put it in perspective that I still need to go out there and shoot a good round tomorrow to even get that chance of touching it.
"Just trying to honestly play my game tomorrow and kind of thinking of the course before I think of the awards ceremony or the cool things that would happen after."
Safe to say Talley will dream of a celebration ascent up Augusta National's 18th on Friday night.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Asterisk Talley leads Augusta National Women's Amateur
Continue reading...
"That's so cool," the 17-year-old exclaimed when she saw her stats listed on a big screen off to the side of the room. Talley analyzed the board before settling into her chair. A smile remained on her face. She didn't look the part of someone leading one of amateur golf's biggest championships, every minute ticking closer to the biggest first tee shot of her life, coming Saturday in the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
Talley is no stranger to the spotlight. Since she burst onto the scene at the 2024 U.S. Women's Open, she has become one of the world's best amateurs. She was a USGA champion at 15. She also finished runner-up at the U.S. Women's Amateur and U.S. Girls' Junior. She topped then-world No. 1 Lottie Woad in singles in the Curtis Cup. Now the top-ranked junior in the world, she's going for her fourth straight victory in amateur golf.
She's all smiles off the course, but as soon as Talley steps inside the ropes, she becomes a hunter. Saturday, her prize is the biggest title of her career. All Talley has between her and the finish line, the biggest moment of her stellar career, is 18 holes at perhaps the most famous golf course in the world.
"You only come to tournaments to win. I mean, why would you play one if you weren't going to win, right?" Talley said when asked about her confidence, which is perhaps her superpower.
Talley's mental fortitude sets her apart from her competitors. She's aggressive, firing at pins and swinging with brash confidence that many professionals only wish they could muster. It's a big part of why the high school junior sits at 11 under after the opening two rounds of the ANWA and has a one-shot lead going into the final round.
Last year at Augusta National, Talley signed for a final-round 68 and finished runner-up behind Carla Bernat Escuder. This year, she's again in a familiar spot in the final round: pacing the field to the finish line.
"Just thinking that I got here for a reason, so why can't I finish it off on the last day," Talley said of her ability to finish."
The ANWA is unlike any other tournament in that Talley has to sleep on the lead for two nights. That means dealing with an extra 24 hours of pressure trying to capture one of amateur golf's biggest titles.
An extra day to think of hoisting the trophy and trying not to let the mind wander. For Talley, Saturday could be her official crowning moment. No one questions her talent. The list of accomplishments on her resume is lengthy, especially for a 17-year-old. The only thing missing is the main course, the marquee victory that solidifies her standing among the world's best amateurs.
How much does Talley think ahead to what could be? It's impossible not to.
"I think I do allow myself to think about it a little bit, but I also try to kind of keep it on the low," she said. "I try not to overthink about it, obviously. But just thinking of how cool it would be to hoist that trophy tomorrow would be pretty nice, but I also try and put it in perspective that I still need to go out there and shoot a good round tomorrow to even get that chance of touching it.
"Just trying to honestly play my game tomorrow and kind of thinking of the course before I think of the awards ceremony or the cool things that would happen after."
Safe to say Talley will dream of a celebration ascent up Augusta National's 18th on Friday night.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Asterisk Talley leads Augusta National Women's Amateur
Continue reading...
