AUGUSTA, Ga. — You couldn’t help but feel a bit of déjà vu when Asterisk Talley approached the microphone to speak with the media after her practice round Friday at Augusta National, 18 holes remaining to decide the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
A year ago, the Chowchilla, Calif., native stood in the same spot after making the 36-hole cut on the number, the youngest player in the field at 15 answering questions outside the Augusta National clubhouse about her mindset heading into Saturday’s final round.
Now, clad in a nearly identical TaylorMade hat to the one she wore last April, ball-marker clipped to the brim just as it was then, tees stuck in her ponytail, she was once again opening up about what could be the biggest day of her life. The only thing missing were the braces she was wearing in 2024.
Seeing double: Asterisk Talley speaks to the media ahead of the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2024 (left) and 2025.
“It would mean everything to me, just like it is for everyone out here,” Talley said when asked about the prospect of winning the 2025 title. “It means the world to everybody. I think it would just mean a lot for my career in the future, and it would mean a lot for me now.”
Unlike a year ago, when she was eight shots off the lead of Lottie Woad entering the final round, Talley is just two back of Woad and co-leader Kiara Romero, rounds of 71 and 66 at Champions Retreat leaving her at seven-under 137. The possibility of victory is much more real this time around, even if Talley only turned 16 in February.
“I think now I'm trying to go out there and get the win and trying to play my best score out here,” Talley said. “Last year I was just kind of trying to have fun because I was pretty far from the lead. This year I'm trying to get out there and shoot a great score.”
More importantly, a lot has happened to Talley in the past 12 months, her game progressing to the point where a victory in arguably the biggest women’s amateur event in the world is a realistic goal.
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Shortly after her T-8 finish (with a closing 70) at the 2024 ANWA, she went on with partner Sarah Lim to claim the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball title. That was followed by trips to the finals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the U.S. Women’s Amateur, losing both times to fellow teen Rianne Malixi. Even so, Talley made USGA history as the first player to reach the final in three events in a single calendar year.
Talley also shared low amateur honors in the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open and played for the U.S. Curtis Cup team. Coming into this year’s ANWA, Talley sits 14th in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking.
So what’s different about Talley’s game from this time a year ago? Not a lot if you ask her.
“I don't think much has changed with my game and my mindset,” Talley said. “I think I've just kind of matured, and my game has matured in a way that I think has given me confidence in this event.”
OK, so what about it has matured?
“I think just knowing where my game is at the moment. Last year I was just kind of clueless, and I know now that I can come out here and shoot a good score and do what I need to do.”
Before playing in the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Talley qualified for the 2022 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta.
John McCoy
Mind you, Talley’s maturity was something we noted a year ago when she made her debut at the ANWA and explained the origin of her unique name. Talley’s mother is Greek, and in Greek, Asterisk means “little star.”
“I always get crap for it,” Talley noted, “but I'm going to say it anyways.”
The scoring overall this week has been impressively low, perhaps no surprise when the field has 49 of the top 50 players off the WAGR competing. All 32 players who made the cut did so with under par scores, a first for the event since its inception in 2019.
And this feeds into what will be the trickiest part for any of the contenders on Saturday: the fact that there are so many of them in the chase. Eleven players are within five shots of the lead. It means competitors might have to be a bit more aggressive while playing Augusta National for the final round.
For Talley, that might be something she relishes.
“I feel like I'm very comfortable around this course," said Talley, whose Augusta National experience also includes an appearance in the 2022 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. "It's a very … it's not a very forgiving course, but it's super fun to play all the time. So I think I'm very comfortable going into tomorrow, knowing where my game is and where I am in the tournament.”
Suffice to say, Talley isn’t just mature. She’s confident too.