AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 2, 2026

Asterisk Talley

Quick Quotes

Q. How about that round? Tell me gave you the biggest challenge today. How did you kind of read them and were able to pull it off?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I think 17 was a tough one for me just coming down the stretch. Didn't hit a great tee shot, but was able to make a tough two-putt, and I think that was kind of a stressful par, but you know, tried to keep it calm.

I think there weren't many stressful holes out there. I just think I kind of had some missed opportunities, and just kind of really with the approaches, it wasn't really too many missed putts. It was kind of just missed greens and then it was kind of dumb, but yeah, other than that, it was pretty well.

Q. You put yourself in a good position for Saturday. What kind of things do you do to prepare for that to be in contention and possibly bring home the championship?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I think kind of just doing the same thing. I mean, obviously tomorrow is going to be a big step kind of trying to learn the course again and trying to, you know, see what's going on at Augusta right now.

But, yeah, just I think doing the same thing and then kind of getting a feel for it tomorrow.

Q. Is there anything that worked for you last year that you were maybe going to lean on this time around?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just really having fun at Augusta. I mean, ever since I've gotten there, I mean, I've kind of just had some fun. I mean, I haven't really totally been in contention the last couple of years, so I was just kind of going out there to play my best golf. I've played well there the past two years, so hopefully just doing the same thing.

Q. You've been in so many big moments like this one throughout your very young career. Kind of tell me a little bit about how you keep yourself grounded and what your strategy is kind of with these expectations to kind of keep yourself just kind of grounded throughout the week?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I think just always have the highest expectations for myself possible. I mean, I think if you don't set the bar high, then you're never going to really succeed to your full expectation. So just trying to go out there and win every week and hopefully getting a good score out there and playing my best golf.

Q. When you go home after that, do you still think about the golf, or do you do stuff to get your mind off of it? Are you kind of trying to not think about it until you get on the course tomorrow, or what is your strategy there?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I think just kind of thinking what went wrong today and just kind of working that out after the round and then kind of just chilling after.

I mean, I don't really think about it after I kind of hit the range and hit some putts. I think that's the only time I really, really dig deep into my round today, but then after it's kind of just out of my mind.

Q. What went wrong today?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Just missed a couple of greens that shouldn't have been missed. I mean, obviously a couple of wedges were not great to miss the green, but I mean, ended up getting up and down on all of them, but I mean, it's just better to give yourself some birdie opportunities rather than trying to save par.

Q. What's your strongest memory from last year?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just playing well at Augusta. I mean, that was super cool. Obviously holing out on one was pretty cool, but yeah, it's always a fun week. Always memorable getting to play that course and just playing well usually.

Q. Of all the good experiences you've had, did you find yourself when it was over reliving that round more than others?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think so. I mean, I think I had some memorable moments last year that kind of stuck with me throughout a couple of tournaments.

I think just kind of looking at my swing back then when I was hitting it really good and kind of trying to do the same things. I mean, I always try and look back of when I was hitting it well and trying to swing the same.

Q. According to the Golf Channel broadcast, you were the golfer in this field to shoot bogey-free, the only one.

ASTERISK TALLEY: That's pretty cool.

Q. How does that feel when you hear that, and why do you think this course has worked so well for you?

ASTERISK TALLEY: That's pretty cool just to have that. I mean, obviously that's my goal trying to go into every round. I try and set at least one goal for myself, and usually it's to go bogey-free.

Yeah, this golf course just seems to get easier every time you play it, the more experience you have. I think just being more aggressive every time you play it, the scores are going to get lower, and I think that's just what's happened to me through the years.

Q. Can you walk us through those holes one, two, and three, the three straight birdies. How were you feeling out there to start?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, I hit a great approach on one probably to four or five feet and just ended up hitting a good putt right in the middle.

Then on two I didn't hit the greatest approach. It was probably like 20-ish feet and then ended up making it. Wasn't expecting it. Probably would have been four or five feet past the hole, but you know, I was glad to drop that one.

Then on three I just hit it a little over the green and then made a good up-and-down for birdie, and it was a pretty calm first three holes.

Q. What does it mean to you when your ball striking may not have been where you wanted it today, and you were still able to get around the golf course?

ASTERISK TALLEY: It was great just knowing I was able to get up and down when I was in a tough position. I think knowing that if I tighten up those little approaches, I can really go low. Glad that my putting is in the right spot too right now.

Q. What was the longest par hole you've had on the last two days?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Probably on 17 it was, like, seven or eight feet, yeah.

Q. How many LPGA or pro starts have you had?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think I've had seven pro starts, so six LPGA events.

Q. How do the nerves and the atmosphere and the magnitude compare to what you experienced the last two years Saturday at Augusta National?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I think just the crowds and the atmosphere just kind of are similar. Knowing that everyone kind of has eyes on you, and you've got to play well. I think it's just kind of the same atmosphere overall. I mean, playing against good players and then having the fans out there is pretty cool.

Q. Do you remember the first time you ever slept on the lead going into a final round of a junior event?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I don't remember the first time, but I mean, it's always a little nerve-racking, but I mean, you try and just think like, I mean, I got the lead coming into today, so I should be able to extend it, right?

Q. What do you tell yourself? What do you focus on to stay as calm as possible when you are the frontrunner?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just playing your game. I mean, obviously you've been playing well to get there, so I think just kind of keeping the same game plan and not really worrying about anyone else in the field.

Q. What did that do for you having been in Phoenix last week in that competition to carryover into here? Not course-wise, but just playing-wise.

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just the atmosphere is obviously really similar, so that definitely puts you in the tournament mode, like the game-ready kind of feel.

I think just playing against such good players, it kind of ups your game a little bit. I think that's kind of good preparation coming into this week.

Q. Your game has a lot of power. What's your gym routine like?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I mean, I work out probably four times a week strength training. I don't really have a set routine all the time. Kind of just do what I want. I have a trainer back home that kind of has a plan for me, but sometimes I don't really follow it (laughing).

Yeah, just kind of getting a workout in when I can. Obviously when I'm on the road, I don't really lift as much. Just trying to get it in when I can, but really that's it.

Q. How long have you been lifting or had this trainer?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I've had this trainer for probably, like, two, three years, but my dad was big on working out when I was, like, little. So, I mean, I've been working out pretty much my whole life (laughing), since, you know, I grew up. Yeah, nothing too serious until about two or three years ago.

Q. What kind of routine do you have before a round? How long does it take you, stretching, activating? Has that changed over the last year or so?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Not really changed really much in the last year or so, but I try and get to the course around an hour and a half early.

It doesn't take much to stretch. I mean, I just kind of try and get warmed up. I'll usually try and hit a few putts before at the start, and then I'll go to the chipping green if they have one. If not, I'll chip on the range. I'll usually end the range around 20 minutes before my tee time, and then I'll hit a few putts before I go out.

Q. Nothing too physical in terms of the stretching or foam balls or any of that stuff?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Not really, no. I just try maybe some bands before I get on the range to kind of get warmed up, but that's really it. I don't really stretch for too long. Usually I'm out on the range or the course when I do it, so...

Q. And you're 17?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, that helps (smiling).

Q. Any fatigue coming off of four rounds against the best in the world into this? If so, are you almost kind of happy to have a day off tomorrow and to have a break from the grind?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, I'm not super tired. Got some recovery on Sunday, Monday. Yeah, I mean, I wasn't too tired after that final round on Sunday. You know, just went straight to the airport after, kind of got some rest.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like I do this every week, so I mean, I'm not really too tired after today or after this week.

Q. How have you evolved when the attention has been on you, especially in the last year, and certainly the last couple of years with your game and being on top of the leader board like you are? How have you dealt with it over the past couple of years?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I feel like I don't really think about it. Just trying to play my own game and just trying to play this tournament like any other and play my best golf out there at Augusta.

Q. I'm curious, from last year how many of the fives could you get to over at the other course?

ASTERISK TALLEY: At Augusta? Good question. Maybe, like, two or three. Maybe, yeah. We'll see. Actually, I could probably get on almost all of them. It just depends on what I kind of do on 13.

I mean, I can get there for sure. It just kind of depends where you put your tee shot. It's pretty tough, but some of them -- I could get on pretty much all of them. It just depends on whether you want to or not. Yeah, if you are going for a green and there's trouble long, or it depends on the pin position, too. It just kind of depends on where you want to put your ball.