Asterisk Talley joined an infamous list on Saturday at Augusta National, but not the one she wanted.
The 17-year-old Talley made the turn at Augusta National holding the final-round lead in the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. After making a par at the 10th, Talley had not made a bogey at the ANWA since the sixth of the final round last year and was in prime position to handle the back-nine pressure at Augusta and leave with a prestigious amateur title. But Talley dropped a shot at the par-4 11th and then arrived at the famous par-3 12th tied for the lead with Maria Jose Marin. The 12th hole at Augusta National has claimed many victims and doomed many title runs. Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau and Francesco Molinari are among the names who have failed the final-round exam at the 12th hole.
Talley surveyed the wind and pulled her club. But the eddy effect at the 12th did what it does, and Talley’s tee shot sailed long and landed in the bushes. However, Talley got a good break as the ball bounced back down into the bunker, leaving her a tricky shot to get up and down and stay in a tie for first place. But her bunker shot came out hot and raced across the green and down into Rae’s Creek.
Talley surveyed her options after her ball met its watery demise. She had two choices: drop on the other side of the creek or play the exact same shot she just played from the bunker. The 17-year-old chose the second option, but the result was the same as her second attempt at the bunker shot sped across the green and into the creek. Talley elected to drop on the other side of the creek after her second water ball, and wound up making a lengthy putt for a quadruple bogey 7, which dropped her from 13 under to 9 under and five shots behind Marin.
Rory McIlroy, the 2025 Masters champion, was on site at Augusta National and joined the broadcast to discuss how Talley should regroup after an Augusta National meltdown, something McIlroy is familiar with.
“Anything can happen on this golf course is what I would tell her,” McIlroy told NBC’s Cara Banks. “Two par 5s coming up in 13 and 15, with a pin on the left at 16, the water is in play. A lot can happen. Obviously she needs to bounce back on 13 and hopefully make a birdie but it’s certainly not over around this place. I know that better than anyone. Hopefully she regroups and it’ll be an exciting last few holes.”
Talley bounced back with a birdie at the 13th, but then made bogey at 15 and dumped her tee shot on No. 16 in the water. But her ANWA hopes had already long been dashed by the shortest hole on the golf course — and she won’t be the last victim claimed by “Golden Bell.”
