AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 3, 2025

Asterisk Talley

Quick Quotes

Q. Obviously you're 6-under today. Kind of how are you feeling going into this round?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I'm feeling good. Going into this round I knew I had to fire some scores today because, before I came into today, I was sitting like close to the cut line. So I knew I had to play some good golf to make the cut.

I started off pretty steady on the front nine, and then I caught some fire on the back.

Q. You birdied every par-5 hole except for one. Kind of how were those looking for you today?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Really looking good. I just tried to hit fairways and greens on the par-5s on pretty much every hole, and I just tried to stay out of trouble as much as I could. Yeah, that's basically it.

I had good looks today under 10 feet, so I feel like just a lot of those went in and it went well.

Q. This is your second year here. Kind of how different is it coming back this year after playing it last year and being more familiar with these courses?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think it's a big advantage having some course knowledge this year, not coming in here blind and just kind of being star struck of the course. I kind of know it better this year, and I think it's a big advantage.

Q. You played the Sage Valley Junior Invitational coming into this. You're a past champion. How was that getting to play that kind of leading up so nearby and getting used to the weather here leading up to this?

ASTERISK TALLEY: It's great getting to play Sage leading up to this tournament because they're so similar to these courses around here. It is super close, so you kind of get some familiarity.

It's good preparation for this event, and it's good to get my game ready.

Q. After seeing all the low scores yesterday, how did you avoid putting pressure on yourself coming into this round today?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Just knowing that I had to shoot a good score today and knowing that it's possible on this course really helps me. Just, like I think Morgan said last night, just knowing that people are shooting good scores, you should be the one that wants to shoot those scores today.

I think I really did that, and I really shot my goal.

Q. What was the biggest difference for you yesterday versus today?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just maybe I was a little more calm today. I knew that -- I knew what I had to do today, and I just hit a lot more fairways and greens. I put myself closer to the hole, and I made a lot more close putts.

Q. What was the most important thing you learned about Augusta National last year?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just kind of the quirks of the course, kind of where you can hit it and where you can't hit it. I think that's something that really helps you at Augusta, just knowing that I can't go here for sure. This is a good place to leave it if I do like miss a shot or something.

Q. Tomorrow how are you going to balance the excitement of playing Augusta National while also staying focused and treating it like a practice round for Saturday?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think playing it before has definitely helped me handle my excitement over the course, handle my amazement of the course, and I think I'm just going to try to stay focused or Saturday and try and get some good practice in tomorrow.

Q. Is there a particular shot or hole tomorrow or part of the experience that you're looking forward to especially?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Always the tee shot on 12. Everyone loves to hit that shot. I think it's just such an amazing moment for golfers like us to see it on TV and then getting to hit such a legendary shot.

Q. What do you hit on 12?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think usually like a 9, 9 or 8, something like that. Somewhere around there.

Q. Where do you aim?

ASTERISK TALLEY: It depends where the pin is. If it's to the right, I'll aim middle of the green, but if it's to the left, I'll aim left center. I don't really try to go at the flag because there's a huge ridge in the middle and you don't want to hit short or long.

So you just try and hit the center of the green and hope for the best.

Q. You've played in so many big tournaments since this year has gone by; you've had so many close calls. What do you draw on the most from those experiences? Is it the Women's Open, the Women's Amateur? What do you find yourself going back to in your mind?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Everything I've gotten runner-up in; I know how to get second. Now it's time to try to pull through in one of these events.

Q. Do you feel like you're due?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I feel like I'm due for sure.

Q. What are your caddie plans for tomorrow and Saturday?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I'm going to have an Augusta caddie tomorrow. The one that I had last year really helped me, I think. So I'm going to use him again and for Saturday as well.