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see also: Asterisk Talley, View results for U.S. Women's Open, Riviera Country Club
Our writer followed the phenom from Chowchilla, California for all 18 holes of her round of 66
by Matthew Fehr, for AmateurGolf.com
After Asterisk Talley’s birdie on the par-5 17th hole on Friday clinched her spot on the number for the weekend, the seventh-ranked amateur entered Saturday in the third group to tee off.
On a foggy Los Angeles morning, Talley -- paired with 12-time Japan Tour winner Sakura Koiwai -- hit a towering 280-yard drive on one of the most iconic opening tee shots in golf, finding the edge of the fairway and outdriving Koiwai by at least 20 yards, a theme that remained constant throughout the day. Talley then hit her second shot over the green, and a nifty chip to a few inches secured her birdie -- the third consecutive day she had birdied the opening hole.
As she walked off the green, a teenager asked her to sign his flag, usually a major taboo in professional golf. But Talley, completely unfazed, took time for the fan, signing the flag while walking toward the second tee. In 10 years of watching professional golf, I had never seen that happen during a round.
Fast forward to the third green, and the birdie train rolled on. Talley, putting from above the hole, rolled in a 12-footer for another birdie. The Stanford commit’s putting routine is unique, as Talley elects to keep the flagstick in on long putts.
“That’s what she likes to do from long range,” her father, James, who caddied for her during the 36-hole qualifier, said.
If there is one flaw in the generational talent’s game, it is her lag putting. During the first two rounds, Talley often misread the speed or break on longer putts, causing her to miss opportunities. On Saturday, however, it seemed every putt she hit was destined for the hole.
“The hole felt so big to me,” Talley said after her round.
When she reached the iconic par-3 sixth, Talley was just above the green and faced a tricky right-to-left putt for birdie. After a very brief pre-putt routine, she knocked it in, drawing the only celebration of the day from her eight-person family section led by her mom, Brandi, and dad, James. The rest were uncles and longtime family friends who attend nearly every tournament Talley plays, including the final qualifier at Richmond Country Club. The group is easily distinguishable, often wearing Augusta National gear -- a nod to Talley’s runner-up finish at the ANWA.
As Talley made the turn at 3-under for the day, the crowds continued to grow. Throughout her career, large galleries have never fazed her. Being so young and so talented, Talley has rarely played in a tournament where she was not one of the main attractions. She never seems to look at the crowd or even acknowledge it, remaining even-keeled throughout the round. When she short-sided herself on the drivable par-4 10th, she was unfazed. She chipped to a few feet and converted yet another birdie, moving to 4-under on the day.
As Talley navigated the more difficult back nine, she made six consecutive pars, then birdied No. 17. She had a 12-footer on the 18th to shoot 6-under and tie the low round of the tournament, but her putt came up just a few inches short.
As she walked off the green, any disappointment was impossible to detect as she signed autographs for every fan who asked and gave away two golf balls, one to a little girl wearing a Stanford shirt and another to a young fan nearby. For both, it looked like their day had been made.
When it was all said and done, Talley posted 5-under 66 -- the lowest weekend round ever shot by an amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open. And while it vaulted her to 1-under for the tournament, she’ll have to make up a shot on the other two amateurs inside the top 20 if she wants to earn low amateur honors. Those players are Maria Jose Marin and 16-year-old Aphrodite Deng. They are at 2-under after matching rounds of 68.
The U.S. Women's Open has the biggest payout in women's golf. It is one of 15 annual championships conducted by the USGA. The event is open to any professional or amateur female golfer. There is a handicap limit for amateurs; for the 2024 event it wa...
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