AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 1, 2026

Asterisk Talley

Quick Quotes

Q. Asterick, that was some eagle you made out here.

ASTERISK TALLEY: Thank you.

Q. Can you walk us through the shot? It looked like a difficult bunker shot. You were barely in the sand.

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, I had a kind of tough stance there. I had a lot of green to work with. It wasn't too bad of a -- I wasn't very short-sighted, but I was honestly just trying to barely get it on the green and let it roll out all the way to the flag.

I knew it was going to be pretty fast. I was honestly just trying to get it within 10 feet, and it ended up going in, so it was pretty cool (laughing).

Q. Did that jump-start your round? You were already playing well, but did it give you a lift?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think so. I mean, I think it gave me a little confidence going into the back. You know, it was a little slow on the back nine, but I mean, I had a bogey-free round, so it was pretty steady all day.

Q. What do you have to say about the last nine? Obviously one took birdie on the last nine. How difficult are those holes playing?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, they were all pretty difficult today. I just think, you know, I wasn't making many mistakes, but I wasn't doing anything amazing on the back nine. I think it was just pretty much just hitting fairways and greens and not getting very close to the hole at all times.

I mean, I was probably averaging, like, 20 feet from the hole on the back nine. So, you know, I'm not going to make many of those. So it was just pretty steady, yeah.

Q. What do you have to say about the position you're in for tomorrow?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Pretty happy about it. Glad that the cut is pretty secured right now, and I think I'm just trying to get a good round in tomorrow to hopefully have a good going into Augusta.

Q. How important is a solid start for this tournament in particular?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, it's pretty crucial just knowing that scores are going to be low here and just knowing that someone is going to catch fire at least one of the days. I think shooting low is pretty much a need to have a good position going into Augusta and honestly just going into tomorrow, too.

Q. Asterisk, how different do you feel as a golfer now from two years ago when you first came to play?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I'm definitely hitting it a lot farther, so it makes the course a little shorter and more accessible, I think. But also mature, just knowing that I don't have to go for every flag. Honestly, that's just putting me in better positions on every hole and just knowing that I don't need to hit it to 5 feet every time. I mean, I hit it to 20 feet, like, every time on the back nine, and I shot one under. So it wasn't too bad out there.

Q. Do you feel like you're one of the favorites now than you did a couple of years ago when you were sort of relatively new to the scene?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, I don't really like to think of myself as a favorite. I think of everyone in this field is a favorite. Everyone here is pretty good. So I'm just trying to put myself in a good position for the rest of the field and trying to play my best golf.

Q. What was the highlight of dinner last night?

ASTERISK TALLEY: The dinner? The food, for sure. I mean, it was pretty great. Then just getting to be on Augusta in a casual setting rather than trying to compete is pretty cool. I think just being around friends in just a chill setting is pretty awesome.

Q. You said the food. What was your favorite?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Had a nice steak. It was perfect. We loved it.

Q. You had your best finish to date in an LPGA event last week. What was your biggest takeaway from Phoenix?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just playing calm and steady golf all week last week. I mean, I had a lot of fun out there. It was pretty tough with how hot it was. So just trying to stay in the moment and not trying to get too ahead of myself, trying to finish the round too fast. I think just knowing that my game is good enough and it's in a good position right now, and it's really nice.

Q. What was the turnaround coming from there to here? When did you arrive?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I took a redeye on Sunday night. I flew out at midnight and got here at 11:00 in the morning and then just rested pretty much and played 18 yesterday and just kind of got a feel for the course and then came out today and tried to play my best.

Q. Do you feel rested now?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, I feel good now. Got a couple of days of R&R, so it was pretty nice.

Q. Asterisk, when you play with the pros, are you trying to learn from them, or are you more focused on your own game?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think a little bit of both. I think I'm trying to learn a little bit from them, but not take too much away from their game, because that can mess up yourself.

I think knowing that, you know, something that helps somebody else may not help me, but also if it helps everybody, then that's probably something you should start doing. So I think just trying to take the key takeaways from what they do.

Q. Is that a lucky ball marker, or do you switch them up?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Now, I switch it every day, so...

Q. What's the one today?

ASTERISK TALLEY: It's a pineapple.

Q. Any particular reason?

ASTERISK TALLEY: No, I have a ton, so I just -- I used to collect them a lot, and now I just switch them out pretty much every round.

Q. How many do you have, do you think, in total?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Probably, like, 50. A lot (smiling).

Q. Do you know which one you might use Saturday if you make it?

ASTERISK TALLEY: No clue, but I have a couple. I might have, like, six here in my bag, so we'll see which one gets the pull on Saturday.

Q. What's your favorite one?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I have like this lollipop one that's really cute, and I like that one, but I mean, this one might be my new favorite (laughing).

Q. What are the interactions like with the girls when you are signing autographs?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Oh, it's awesome. Just knowing that I was in their position before, and I never thought I would be the one signing autographs, but I mean, it's super cool.

Just getting to see how excited they get to see good players, and I mean, I'm just glad that it kind of gives them the drive and motivation to, like, become better players themselves.

Q. There was a lot of news about who your caddie was supposed to be this week.

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah.

Q. How quickly will you be touching base with Miles and letting him know you shot 6 of 6 out here today?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think he already knows. He texted me, "Good round today." He is supportive since we're friends, but you know, I'm excited for him to get to play this week. I'm wishing him luck tomorrow, and I'm sure he'll be doing the same.

Q. You're in the same group -- you were in the same group today as Aphrodite Deng. You're both former Sage Valley champions. How much did you talk? She was making her debut. How much did you talk about it, and did you give her any advice about approaching this course?

ASTERISK TALLEY: We didn't talk much actually today. I mean, we are friends. It's not like we're, you know, not talking or anything. It's just, like, we were pretty focused today.

I think in the beginning you try and get yourself a good score at the start, and then in the middle you're trying to, like, feel it out. Then at the end you're trying to have a good finish.

I feel like I talked to her a little bit at the end just about random stuff. Not really about golf, but we were just kind of having a little chat. But, yeah, we didn't really talk much today. I think we were both really in the zone out there.

Q. I know you've committed to Stanford, but what's it like having eight of you in the field, including the whole team and the commits to have that representation here?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, it's crazy. It just shows how good they are, right?

I mean, it's cool just to have what feels like a team out here and just getting to kind of watch the leaderboard for those players, and it's super cool just to have them out here.

Q. Have you talked to them or spoken to them about any advice about just playing there?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think outside of this tournament I definitely have. I haven't talked to them much this week since I haven't been here for very long, but yeah, I mean, it's great. They give great advice, and they love it there, so it's great.

Q. Obviously you've had Zach a lot as a caddie, but what's he like out here? How has he helped you?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, he's just pretty chill, I think. I like a caddie who is helpful, but not too pushy, you know, and I think he's great at finding the middle in that.

He knows that I know how to play golf and what I do need help with. He knows my dad really well, and he kind of tells him what I'm working on, so I think they kind of collide in that.

Then he obviously knows the course since he caddied last year, so I mean, we're just having some fun out there. I mean, we're not trying too hard, so...