AUGUSTA, Ga. — Saturday could have been the crowning moment for 17-year-old phenom Asterisk Talley’s amateur career. But the 12th hole at Augusta National — and the bite that gives Amen Corner its name — did not let that happen.

Talley, a high school junior from Chowchilla, Calif., came into the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur with a one-shot lead over her closest pursuers, Meja Ortengren and Maria Jose Marin. She ended it six strokes behind the eventual champion, Marin, after carding a quadruple-bogey seven at the infamous par-3.

Wiping tears from her cheeks as she walked off the 18th green, Talley was comforted by Augusta National member and legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam and two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau. When Talley finally found her father, James, she buried her face in his shoulder, staying there for several moments as a small crowd began to collect around her.

“I’m just a little emotional, not only because I didn’t get it done today, but also just everyone is so supportive,” Talley said, the tears still streaming. “It’s hard when they have to watch that and see you not do well or not accomplish what you wanted.”

Talley, the No. 1 junior golfer in the world and the 2025 ANWA runner-up, made the turn at Augusta National without making a single bogey. There had not been a blemish on her card all week.

With rounds of 66 and 67 at Champions Retreat, the course that hosts the first two rounds of the ANWA, Talley was undoubtedly playing the best and cleanest golf in the field. Then she made an early surge on Saturday morning, birdieing three of her opening four holes. But on No. 11, Talley made her first bogey of the tournament, and then it all fell apart from there.

Talley stepped onto the par-3 12th tee, and the wind was swirling. The hole and the stretch it belongs to define Augusta National — both for the backdrop it provides for triumph, and the memories it holds for those who feel its wrath.

So when Talley’s ball soared to the left side of the green, she could only hold her breath. Then a loud crack reverberated from behind the putting surface. Talley’s shot struck the bushes and ricocheted into the back bunker. Talley knew she overshot the green instantly, but she didn’t think the ensuing shot would be quite so difficult. But her bunker shot rolled past the pin, down the green’s false front, and into the water. Assessing her options from there with her caddie, a regular looper at Augusta National, Talley had two options: Drop from the opposite side of the pond or re-hit from her original position. She elected to hit the shot again. It was a mistake — she sent a second ball across the green and into the pond.

“I didn’t think going to the other side was the best option at the time,” she said. “I thought, since we could rake the bunker, maybe we could get it to not be so hard. It was still the same after dropping. Of course, when you drop, your ball sits down in the bunker. The same thing happened. Just couldn’t really get under the ball there. Decided the third time, why not just chip?”

Talley made the dreaded walk back over Hogan Bridge, dropping to hit her sixth shot. She got up and down from there, carding a quadruple bogey 7, dropping from a tie for the lead to four behind Marin, who made a birdie on No. 13 at the same time.

Asterisk Talley finished in a five-way tie for fourth place after a final-round 75. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images)

“I do not wish it to any golfer,” Marin said of her competitor. “She was playing incredible golf, and she played incredible golf for — in all of Champions Retreat and for the first 11 holes here at Augusta. I think she just has to be really proud of herself.”

Talley went on to shoot 42 on the back nine, for a final-round 75 and a five-way tie for fourth place.

“I kept fighting. I made a couple good putts, a couple good shots down the stretch. I was able to still keep my head in the right place, even after that little meltdown there,” Talley said. “Still just kind of kept my head high heading into the last few holes. It just didn’t work out, but that’s OK.”

DeChambeau, who grew up in a nearby California town, stuck around after Talley pushed through an interview that lasted several minutes and then shared a long personal moment with her.

“The way it turned out, it’s not going to define her,” DeChambeau said later. “It’s a moment for her to really learn. Obviously, I’ve had difficult moments in my career, and if there’s anything I can do to support her, that’s what I’m here for. That’s why I’m here to support. Obviously, ANWA is a huge event now. It’s really transforming the game, and that’s what really matters here today.”

Talley said that Sorenstam, the 10-time major champion, told her that she is the best player out here.

“She was the best player ever. Her telling me I’m the best player out here is pretty special. Again, it goes back to the support I have out here. It’s really nice to just have those people behind me and to have those kind of moments out here, especially when something like that happens,” Talley said.