AUGUSTA, Ga. — Asterix Talley missed seeing the ball go in when she made an eagle on her first hole at Augusta National Golf Club. However, the enthusiastic reaction from the spectators conveyed what had happened. The 16-year-old quickly lifted her hands above her head in joyful triumph as she looked toward the skies.
“Even as her dad I can’t tell if she’s happy or sad,” said her father, James, earlier in the week at Champions Retreat. “You don’t see her out there fist-pumping. I was like, was that good or was it bad? I don’t know. It’s always on the same plane.”
California's Talley, whose name means “little star” in Greek, came up one stroke shy in her second Augusta National Women’s Amateur Even with birdies on two out of the last three holes, she has achieved remarkable success. Having won at the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball and reached the finals in two USGA events last year—the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Girls’ Junior—her résumé closely mirrors what Rose Zhang accomplished at such a tender age.
Beth Daniel, an LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member, coached Talley during last year’s Junior Solheim Cup and described her skills as exceptional.
Daniel remarked, “She possesses an extraordinary level of determination to triumph,” adding, “It’s not something you encounter frequently among many athletes; such qualities appear only occasionally.”
Talley possesses the skills needed to compete on the LPGA currently. She boasts the distance, composure, and eagerness to learn and put in hard work that are essential for success at the higher level.
One year back, she arrived in Augusta and informed the media that her objective was to reach the professional ranks at the earliest opportunity.
"To become number one," she stated.
Now that she has gained even greater national recognition and visibility, her stance has changed. She is now expressing a desire to pursue higher education.
I believe this will be an excellent experience for me," remarked Talley following her second ANWA appearance where she closed with a score of 68. "It will provide me with the opportunity to be part of a team consistently. Teamplay is something I enjoy immensely, as well as the atmosphere it creates, and I feel this will offer me tremendous learning.
Last summer, Talley defeated world top-ranked player Lottie Woad in singles during the Curtis Cup and contributed to leading Team USA to triumph at the Junior Solheim.
Talley’s dad says she enjoys school and maintains a 4.3 GPA. Unlike several of her classmates who attend classes virtually, Talley attends Chowchilla High School in person five days a week, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Many of her acquaintances are unaware of what she gets up to during her trips.
Although Talley may seem older than her age when competing in the ring, she is simply a typical 16-year-old outside of it. Unlike others who remained in Georgia for an additional week following the Sage Valley Invitational to prepare for the ANWA, Talley returned to California after the event concluded so she could attend classes.
During last year's U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club, Talley remained competitive throughout the initial days following her scores of 70 and 71. She quickly became a favorite among the media as a result.
When she delivered that fantastic interview at the U.S. Open that everybody adored, I must be honest—I don't really know that girl," her dad remarked dryly. "I usually pick her up from school and attempt to gather details from her—unless it’s a simple yes or no response, I end up with nothing.
James, a corrections officer who has recently faced significant challenges, mentioned that he first heard about the World Amateur Golf Ranking roughly eight months ago. He often receives inquiries regarding Asterisk’s prospects and supports the notion of her attending college, drawing parallels to how Zhang pursued education before embarking on her career path for at least a few years.
I don't believe any harm could come from it," James stated. "If she wishes to join the tour, it will still be an option; however, college won't wait.
People often said that Zhang's time at college golf might be detrimental to her. This bothered her quite a bit.
“I wanted to push myself to the limit,” she said on the eve of her 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur victory.
Only a few LPGA players have claimed victories as teens – Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Brooke Henderson. Talley’s career seems to be following a comparable route. She might secure wins at the professional level prior to entering college, though currently, she still has various choices ahead.
There’s a sense of individuality and personal growth that develops during college, which cannot be replicated when touring with an entourage that often comprises family members.
Michelle Wie West notably became a professional and later returned to college to regain her footing.
Talley mentioned she has no idea how much she's grown over the last year, but her dad stated that she's increased by 4 inches in just eight months.
Although she didn’t claim victory at Augusta National, there’s no doubt for those who were watching that she’s the rising star to watch out for.
The article initially appeared on DIWIDA News | The ANWA runner-up Asterisk Talley currently possesses the skill set for the LPGA, yet she is aiming to pursue college golf instead.