Asterisk Talley returns to competition after ANWA at JM Eagle LA Championship

By Amy Rogers

Two weeks removed from her heartbreaking loss at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Asterisk Talley is teeing it up on another big stage this week at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro. Talley was awarded a sponsor exemption for the second consecutive year in order to compete alongside the best in women’s golf.

 

While Talley says she continues to process the fallout of her quadruple bogey at the par 3, 12th at Augusta National Golf Club, which essentially cost her the title, Thursday she’ll be returning to competition in a comfortable place at El Caballero Country Club where she’s an honorary member.

 

“I don't think I still really have processed everything that's happened. Was honestly just trying to put it out of my mind after that. Trying to more focus on this event instead of trying to focus on what happened there,” Talley said while meeting with the media on Wednesday at El Cab, “But obviously stuff happens and you kind of just move on after that. I think I was just trying to figure out what kind of those little mistakes and trying to honestly just gear up for this event after that Saturday.”

 

Talley returns to El Cab off her third consecutive top 10 finish at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and says she won’t have to work quite as hard to prepare for the LPGA Tour stop as she, perhaps, had to at Augusta National, thanks to her familiarity with El Cab, where she was runner-up in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship in 2024.

 

“I played this course so many times that I think it's just kind of -- I know it like the back of my hand now,” Talley said. “Just leaning on that course knowledge is always helpful and I think that's going to be a big plus this week.”

 

The 19-year old amateur is making her seventh LPGA Tour start this week as she continues to stack up opportunities to learn about herself and her game in an intense competitive arena before heading off to play for Stanford University, which is where she’s committed to play after high school. Talley says she tries to look at each of the chances she’s received to compete alongside the world’s top players as a learning experience. And after missing the cut at the JM Eagle LA Championship last year she says she’s continued to grow as a player.

 

“Just maturing around the course and knowing where to miss and where the good spots are to hit the ball. I think you just kind of learn that through every course,” Talley said about how she’s grown since competing at El Cab last year. “I think it just suits my eye. It's pretty open in terms of just how many trees and things are out here. It's a pretty flat course I would say. Not super hilly. Some areas can be a little different, but I think it just suits my eye just knowing it for so long.”

 

While Talley says she’s still wrapping her mind around what resulted in what she said was “a big number” at the 12th hole at Augusta National Golf Club, she says there have already been some quick takeaways that have helped her focus her preparations for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro.

 

“Just kind of getting my numbers specific and working on my short game a little bit,” Talley said about the work she’s put in ahead of the championship. “My tee shots have been pretty good so I think just trying to refine those little parts that were a little struggle last week. I think just kind of trying to grind it out before this week and kind of get ready.”

By Amy Rogers

Two weeks removed from her heartbreaking loss at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Asterisk Talley is teeing it up on another big stage this week at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro. Talley was awarded a sponsor exemption for the second consecutive year in order to compete alongside the best in women’s golf.

 

While Talley says she continues to process the fallout of her quadruple bogey at the par 3, 12th at Augusta National Golf Club, which essentially cost her the title, Thursday she’ll be returning to competition in a comfortable place at El Caballero Country Club where she’s an honorary member.

 

“I don't think I still really have processed everything that's happened. Was honestly just trying to put it out of my mind after that. Trying to more focus on this event instead of trying to focus on what happened there,” Talley said while meeting with the media on Wednesday at El Cab, “But obviously stuff happens and you kind of just move on after that. I think I was just trying to figure out what kind of those little mistakes and trying to honestly just gear up for this event after that Saturday.”

 

Talley returns to El Cab off her third consecutive top 10 finish at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and says she won’t have to work quite as hard to prepare for the LPGA Tour stop as she, perhaps, had to at Augusta National, thanks to her familiarity with El Cab, where she was runner-up in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship in 2024.

 

“I played this course so many times that I think it's just kind of -- I know it like the back of my hand now,” Talley said. “Just leaning on that course knowledge is always helpful and I think that's going to be a big plus this week.”

 

The 19-year old amateur is making her seventh LPGA Tour start this week as she continues to stack up opportunities to learn about herself and her game in an intense competitive arena before heading off to play for Stanford University, which is where she’s committed to play after high school. Talley says she tries to look at each of the chances she’s received to compete alongside the world’s top players as a learning experience. And after missing the cut at the JM Eagle LA Championship last year she says she’s continued to grow as a player.

 

“Just maturing around the course and knowing where to miss and where the good spots are to hit the ball. I think you just kind of learn that through every course,” Talley said about how she’s grown since competing at El Cab last year. “I think it just suits my eye. It's pretty open in terms of just how many trees and things are out here. It's a pretty flat course I would say. Not super hilly. Some areas can be a little different, but I think it just suits my eye just knowing it for so long.”

 

While Talley says she’s still wrapping her mind around what resulted in what she said was “a big number” at the 12th hole at Augusta National Golf Club, she says there have already been some quick takeaways that have helped her focus her preparations for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro.

 

“Just kind of getting my numbers specific and working on my short game a little bit,” Talley said about the work she’s put in ahead of the championship. “My tee shots have been pretty good so I think just trying to refine those little parts that were a little struggle last week. I think just kind of trying to grind it out before this week and kind of get ready.”