Asterisk Talley joined an infamous list Saturday at Augusta National, but not the one she wanted.
The 17-year-old Talley turned the corner at Augusta National by holding the lead into the final round at 2026 Augusta Women’s Amateur National. After making a par at 10th, Talley hadn’t made an ANWA finish since the sixth round of last year’s final and was in prime position to withstand the pressure of the back nine at Augusta and walk away with a prestigious amateur title. But Talley bogeyed the par-4 11th and then birdied the par-3 12th, tied for the lead with Maria Jose Marin. The 12th hole at Augusta National has claimed many lives and doomed many title races. Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau and Francesco Molinari are among the names to have failed the final round exam at the 12th hole.
Talley observed the wind and drew her wand. But the swirl effect on the 12th did what it does, and Talley’s tee shot sailed long and landed in the bushes. However, Talley got a nice break as the ball bounced back into the bunker, leaving her with a tricky shot to get up and down and stay in a tie for first place. But her bunker shot came up hot and ran across the green and down into Rae’s Creek.
Talley surveyed her options as her ball met its diluted demise. She had two choices: drop to the other side of the creek or play the 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 bunker shot, which sped across the green and into the creek. Talley opted to drop to the other side of the creek after her second water putt, and ended up making a long putt for a quadruple bogey 7, which dropped her from 13 under to 9 under and five shots behind Marin.
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Rory McIlroy, 2025 Masters championwas on site at Augusta National and joined the broadcast to discuss how Talley should regroup after an Augusta National debacle, 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 on 13 and 15, with a pin to the left on 16, the water is in play. A lot can happen. Obviously she has to get back on 13 and hopefully make a birdie, but it’s certainly not over around this place. I know that better than anybody. Hopefully she’ll regroup and last.”
Talley pulled away with a birdie at the 13th, but then bogeyed the 15th and dropped her tee shot on No. 16 into the water. But her ANWA hopes were long since dashed by the shortest hole on the golf course – and she won’t be the last victim claimed by the Golden Bell.
