AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 4, 2024

Asterisk Talley

Quick Quotes

Q. Can you just describe the difficulty of the day?

ASTERISK TALLEY: The wind was crazy today. Even when people would stop their shot to wait for the wind or whatever, it would be like, the wind is not stopping for another 15 minutes so might as well go. It's just crazy because sometimes it was like three clubs up, two clubs up. Every hole was like up or down, left or right. It's just tough to get used to a course when everything is changing.

Q. Were you guys on the clock?

ASTERISK TALLEY: We were. Going into, I think, hole 4 or 5, which was our back nine, they gave us a warning because on hole 3, there was a bunch of stuff on the green. We actually asked for them to blow it off. They're like, I know you guys just blew off the green, but we're going to give you a warning. Then we ended up being on the clock after two more holes, and then we picked it up. We caught up to the group in front of us by the last hole. Nervy.

Q. How does that impact you when you're on the clock?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I usually try to be fast anyways. My dad is usually like, slow down. You don't have to do anything extra. At that time it was like, hurry up.

It was just playing normal golf honestly and trying to catch up to the group in front of you.

Q. Were you aware of what the cut line situation was when you were playing?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Well, after I made bogey on 8, it was like, it's over, because I was 3-over -- yeah, 3 going into the last hole, and I was just like, that's not going to make it. I have to make birdie. Then I missed the green. So I was like, um, chip it in or you're out, and then I didn't chip it out, so I was like, you have to make this five-footer to even have a chance, and it was like shaky knees on the last hole, like what do I do. But I was just like, calm down, if you miss, you miss, and that's what happens.

Q. What is the story behind your name?

ASTERISK TALLEY: My mom is Greek, and in Greek it means little star. I always get crap for it, but I'm going to say it anyways. But also my dad had a coworker and her name was Astrid, and he was like, oh, I really like that. Then my mom was like, it means little star in Greek, and he was just like, let's just go with that.

Q. Do you like it?

ASTERISK TALLEY: You know, ups and downs, which is a weird way to describe it. But some people are like, wow, really cool name, and then some people are like, what the hell is that, and it's like, sorry, I didn't choose it. You just live with it.

Q. How do you sign your name? Do you write it out or do you actually just do asterisk?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I write it really fancy, but the I, since I make the A mark really long, I make the I and I do a little X so it makes like an asterisk sign almost. My dad recently made a logo, and it's like a ball but it has the asterisk inside, and the T for my last name.

Q. Is he going to start embroidering it there on your clothes?

ASTERISK TALLEY: We're not there yet, but that might happen.

Q. Do you ever put an asterisk on a keyboard in a text or something for your name?

ASTERISK TALLEY: No, but some people -- this is actually funny because a lot of older people that text me, they do like voice text or whatever, so when they actually say it, it puts it for them, so we're like, oh, I guess they meant that, but they're actually just trying to say it.

Q. How do you view yourself going into this final round?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I'm just trying to have fun, honestly, now. It was hard and tough to get here. It was work. I was just trying my hardest to get to the cut, and after that, I was just like, well, let's just have fun at Augusta because it's Augusta, what are you going to do. But I'm still going to try and play my best golf.

Q. This will be your first time there?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Well, I've been there, but I haven't played. First time playing.

Q. When did you start practicing your signature?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Super early. Probably like eight or seven.

Q. With a pen or like a quill? Did you use a quill?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Like Sharpie maybe.

Q. Was that because you were already signing autographs at that point?

ASTERISK TALLEY: My dad was just like, you need to practice it because that's when your handwriting starts getting better. It's not like little kid anymore. He was just like, now you need to start actually signing because you know how to write. So there you go.

Q. Do you remember when you first signed an autograph for a kid?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Probably like 10 maybe, around there. I know I started signing autographs for adults really early, but probably a kid is like 10 or 11 probably.

Q. How early for adults?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Eight maybe when I actually started first practicing it. That may have been what brought my dad on to start doing it because he's like, people are asking, so you'd better start practicing.

Q. What's the craziest thing you've signed?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I don't know. I haven't signed a lot of crazy things. The most common is probably like scorecard, flags, but balls maybe. It's really hard on balls because there's dimples and it's a sphere so you're like, how do I sign this. When people ask for it, you've got to do it, right?

Q. Have you started thinking about college golf yet?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Not really. My mindset is if I go to college, I'd go to college, but if there's an opportunity to pass it up, then it's just as soon as possible to go pro.

Q. Is there somebody you look up to in the pro ranks and the route they took on the LPGA?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I feel like just anybody on there is really good to look up to because they've all tried their hardest. They all grind, and they all do the same kind of work, and they just try their hardest, and that's what I'm trying to do just to get there and try and stay there.

Q. To get there as soon as possible?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, exactly. To be the No. 1.

Q. You talked yesterday about talking with Bryson and getting some advice from him. Have you gotten any workout advice or dietary advice from Bryson?

ASTERISK TALLEY: He always tries to put on more protein and Orgain or whatever, and my dad was like, we're not going to drink that. He was like, okay, I hope you know we're not going to do that. I was like, okay, it's whatever. He's Bryson, so he's a grown man. I'm a teenager. So I was like, yeah, I don't expect to do the same thing as him.

Q. Have you played a round with him at all or just seen him on the range?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I think I've played a couple holes, not a full round or anything. He's a busy guy. But I've definitely practiced with him maybe three holes maybe.

Q. Has your coach talked much about Augusta National and how to prepare for that or what he's learned from being there?

ASTERISK TALLEY: He was just like, if you're leading, then I'm going to go, and I was like -- after yesterday, I was like, well, I'm not leading so you're not coming. But he was like, when you're there enjoy the experience because it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Of course you can come back to this tournament, but even the pro girls don't really get to play. So he's just like, enjoy it while you're there and just have the best time.

Q. What's your plan for tomorrow with the practice round?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Definitely get used to the course, enjoy it. It's first impression, so just try and play my best, and I hope I can improve my game to get it up for Saturday.

Q. You're obviously the youngest inside the cut line. Has the magnitude of that sunk in at all?

ASTERISK TALLEY: It hasn't sunk in. I'm still over the putt on the last hole. I'm just like, you have to make it to make the cut. That's such a nervy thing. I just tried to calm myself down and it ended up working. I wasn't even thinking about youngest to make the cut today or whatever. I was just like, you have to make it. Yeah, that's what I was thinking about.

Q. I think you would have been six or seven when Bryson played the Masters as an amateur and he led at one point in the second round. Do you remember that at all?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I don't think I was with my coach at that time. I think at the time I was still with my little kid coach. I think I was about eight or seven and a half, eight, when I started going to my coach, so I think it was probably right after that.

Q. When Bryson was turning pro and doing all that?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah.

Q. So he's your big kid coach now?

ASTERISK TALLEY: I guess so. When I had little clubs and stuff, I went to this coach, and then once -- me and my dad were actually playing a round of golf where my coach teaches, and he was like, let's check out this place, and then he ended up being my coach. That's how it came about.

Q. Just like a spur-of-the-moment let's go play this course, and that's where he was set up?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, it's kind of close to home. It's drag on fly. It's in Fresno.

Q. Is he still there?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, he's still there, same spot.

Q. So that's where you would have played with Bryson, at drag on fly?

ASTERISK TALLEY: Mm-hmm, yeah.