Tearful teenager Asterisk Talley was comforted by Bryson DeChambeau after her nightmare back-nine collapse at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).
After María José Marín of Colombia claimed a runaway win, 17-year-old Talley was inconsolable, having started the day with a one-shot lead before slumping to a final-round 75 to finish tied for fourth.
But as Talley left the course, she received words of encouragement and a hug from DeChambeau, who knows pain at Augusta National all too well. “This isn’t going to define you,” DeChambeau told the crestfallen teenager according to the Golf Channel in a moment not captured by the cameras.
Back-to-back missed cuts in 2022 and 2023, including a round of 80, still haunt DeChambeau at Augusta. Last year, he started the final round two shots back from Rory McIlroy in the final group. But a double-bogey at 11 and a bogey at 12 would add to his Masters’ tales of woe.
According to reporters on the ground, DeChambeau spent at least two minutes talking to Talley, pointing at her heart and gesturing back down the hill. The pair hail from California and first crossed paths 10 years ago when DeChambeau saw something in her that felt familiar. “Tenacity,” DeChambeau said. “Same passion I had. It’s what made me feel there were a lot of similarities.”
His words helped console the No 9-ranked amateur in the world rankings after an emotional finish to the tournament.
“He said keep my head high,” Talley said of her conversation with DeChambeau. “He said he’s been in my position before, and he knows how it feels, especially here. He said you’re a great player. It doesn’t really matter.”