THE MODERATOR: Joining us ahead of the 2026 JM Eagle LA Championship is Asterisk Talley. Asterisk, you've had a very busy few weeks. How are you feeling heading into this week at El Cab?
ASTERISK TALLEY: I'm feeling good. I think my game is in a good spot right now and I've been putting in the work. Hoping that it will be a good week this week.
Q. You've seen the course now, played a practice round, pro-am. Anything out there that suits your eye or game.
ASTERISK TALLEY: I mean, I guess just the course experience just kind of has helped me along the way. I mean, I played this course so many times that I think it's just kind of -- I know it like the back of my hand now. That's just going to help me this week. Just leaning on that course knowledge is always helpful and I think that's going to be a big plus this week.
Q. You've gotten some good reps on the LPGA and also playing the Augusta Women's Amateur with some of the best collegiate players. Have there been any words of wisdom or advice on the course or off the courses that's stuck with you as you've adjusted to higher levels of competitive golf?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I think just some advice I've been given through multiple people is especially when you get on big stages like this and see players like Nelly and people obviously a little bit better than you and you think, oh, maybe I have to do what they're doing to help me get better.
You just have to focus on what you have done to make yourself better and you can't really lean on what other people do that makes them better; it might not be the same for you.
Q. What do you think the exemptions you got in the last couple years have done for your career and how it helps you going forward?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Definitely just the experience it's given me playing in so many big events and just being around good players all the time. Just getting that experience of being around the top players and trying to do that and then hopefully make my game a little better in the process, it's given me just a lot of the on-course experience with LPGA players and just top players that everybody knows and loves.
Q. You've had a week since ANWA. What's the biggest takeaway from the whole experience?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Just staying in the moment and not letting frustration get ahold of you a little bit. Knowing I can bounce back for sure after everything that happened.
But just kind of staying in the moment and not thinking of the past or the future. Just kind of thinking of what have to do in that moment to execute the shot and just kind of let that carry through the whole round.
Q. I'm sure it was difficult to talk about the round right afterwards. Obviously something that's required certainly at the pro level. You did it as a 17 year old. What do you take away? Is there a source of pride being able to go out there and do that even though it was tough?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, just trying to stay calm manage those moments and I mean, obviously gives you a little bit of pride of a being able to do that of a such a tough day.
But, yeah, I mean, obviously I've done it so much that it's kind of come natural to me to be able to do those post-round. Yeah, obviously it's an obligation sometimes and sometimes you may not want to but you have to step up and do the right thing.
Q. You're a sponsor invite this week; sponsor invite last year. You said you played this course many times. You're a member here. The tournaments that you played, you played in Phoenix, but those sponsor invites are at courses you may not have that much experience at. What is your preparation and what's the difference this week knowing that you are so familiar with this course?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I think it's just a little less of learning the course and kind of just using the knowledge that I already have like in those practice rounds that I've been doing. I think just not really having to grind as hard just to learn the course.
I think you still kind of practice just what you already know and just lean on that, try and use what you know to kind of move around the course and see what you can do.
Q. Being relatively close to home, are you going to have family and friends here this week with you?
ASTERISK TALLEY: I think couple friends might come down. Obviously my parents are going to come. Yeah, I think just a couple friends might come down and try and watch. It's pretty exciting for them and everyone tries to come out and support, so it's really nice.
Q. You've played the pro-am this morning and practiced on it and played it a bunch. What's it looking like and shaping up to be this week?
ASTERISK TALLEY: It's obviously in great condition. I've heard from multiple people that it was in even better condition than it was last year. I think they're working hard to get it to that level that they want it to be at.
I think obviously the course is in great condition and everyone is -- I think it's going to be a tough track but also going to be a good test this week.
Q. Last year you were at ANWA when you found out you had gotten the exemption into this event last year. How did you find out this year that you would be back in the field?
ASTERISK TALLEY: I think I found out a little bit before ANWA this year. Don't know the exact time but, yeah, I definitely knew before ANWA this year. I had a little bit more notice than I did last year.
But, yeah, just a little more preparation than before just trying to get ready for this week.
Q. Knowing this golf course so well, what is it that you like about it and what are some of your favorite holes or areas of the golf course?
ASTERISK TALLEY: I think it just suits my eye. It's pretty open in terms of just how many trees and things are out here. It's a pretty flat course I would say. Not super hilly. Some areas can be a little different, but I think it just suits my eye just knowing it for so long.
Just kind of trained it to suit my eye I guess.
Q. How old were you when you first played the golf course? Do you remember that first experience?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Pretty sure I was 15. Not positive on that. Yeah, it was in '24 so I think I was 15. Just didn't have a lot of course knowledge coming into it obviously and then just kind of learning it step by step.
It took a while to learn ever in and out of the golf course but got used to it by playing like 11 rounds in a week.
Q. What do you feel like or how do you feel like you've grown as a player and person even just from playing this event last year?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Just maturing around the course and knowing where to miss and where the good spots are to hit the ball. I think you just kind of learn that through ever course. Just maturing throughout where you can miss the ball and where you can put yourself in a good position even if it's not exactly where you wanted to hit it.
Q. You said you've been putting in the work coming into this week. What specifically have you been working on?
ASTERISK TALLEY: I think just the ins and outs of what kind of went wrong ANWA. Just kind of getting my numbers specific and working on my short game a little bit.
My tee shots have been pretty good so I think just trying to refine those little parts that were a little struggle last week. I think just kind of trying to grind it out before this week and kind of get ready.
Q. When you say what went wrong ANWA, what do you mean by that? What do you feel like went wrong there?
ASTERISK TALLEY: I mean, obviously the big number on 12 was definitely something that went a little wrong. Just had some missed greens there I guess. Just a little number conspiracies there and left and right on some areas.
Just trying to hit every green possible and I mean, obviously if you miss it then trying to get up and down which is going to be crucial on this course. I think that's what kind of drew the line ANWA from winning and losing.
Q. I know that obviously you were emotional and were so gracious with the media on Saturday ANWA. Curious how long it took you to process what happened later that night after the cameras were away?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I mean, I don't think I still really have processed everything that's happened. Was honestly just trying to put it out of my mind after that. Trying to more focus on this event instead of trying to focus on what happened there.
But obviously stuff happens and you kind of just move on after that. I think I was just trying to figure out kind of those little mistakes and trying to honestly just gear up for this event after that Saturday.
Q. You had a long conversations with Bryson there. Did you hear from anyone else afterwards, anyone of interest?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Not really. I think everyone was a little nervous to bring it up I guess. I mean, obviously didn't really affect me that much. People could have reached out at any time. It wouldn't have really bothered me.
I think people were a little nervous to kind of bring that up.
Q. Did you watch the Masters? Did you have time with school and everything to watch it? What's it like watching the Masters after you just played Augusta National?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I was watching it at school. I thought the course played a lot different than when we played. Some of the shots they hit they would just bounce and roll of the greens. I was like that was not the conditions that we had.
But, yeah, it was a little different I think for them. Yeah, definitely watched the whole thing.
Q. You watch it during class?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah. Yeah. When I'm not doing anything, you know, it's kind of like my free time moment when I'm all caught up on my work that I need for these weeks. Then I kind of do whatever I want.
Q. You talked about your challenges ANWA. I want to know what part of your game that you're the most confident about? Do you have like a favorite club in your bag that you're hitting really well right now?
ASTERISK TALLEY: I think my driver has been pretty good. I have hit pretty much every fairway. Putting has been pretty good too. Making a lot of putts recently especially, and hopefully I carry that on to this week and hopefully that kind of sets me apart this week.
Q. And just a quick fun question. What is where you pre-round routine? Any music you listen to that pump you up? Any favorite artists?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Not really. I don't really listen to music before I play because it's just different than on the course. I try to make it as on course similarities as possible. I think you need to hear the contact with the ball to know what's going on.
Sometimes can feel it but sometimes you really need to hear that. I try to make it as similar as possible so I do the same things I would do on course.
Q. When you enter a tournament as such a young person, what's your mindset heading into a tournament? What are you thinking?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Just trying to do the same things I usually do I guess. Trying to learn something every time, whether it's from myself or even from the people I'm playing with.
So just trying to do my best to learn every time and trying to step up I guess every time.
Q. I know obviously most tournaments you play you're playing to win. Do you have that mindset as well?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, I definitely just trying to get myself out there and trying to win. I try and do that every tournament. I think that's the expectation that you need to have to play well.
Obviously trying to look at the top of the leaderboard every time you play, it's a good feeling. So I think just when your game is in a good spot like I feel light now there is no reason that you can't. I think I'm just trying to bring that with me coming into this event.
Q. Anything you try and do here in LA while you're here?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Not really, no. There is not really much you can do when you're kind of always at the golf course. Yeah, I don't really do a lot of exploring outside of the golf full not much time to get out there much.
Q. Obviously central California is where you live, but are you a fan of any of the LA sports teams?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Not really, no. I don't watch much other sports. But a lot of people where I'm from are Dodgers fans and some Rams fans. Not really, no. I don't really get into it that much.
Yeah, just not really a big fan.
Q. Obviously that conversation that you had with Bryson emphasized the impact you have off the golf course, inspiring girls that aren't that much younger than you are. If you're having a bad day or struggling is there a piece of you that really gets a lot of peace from being such an inspiration from girls your age and what does that mean to you?
ASTERISK TALLEY: Yeah, definitely. It's always a great thing to have in your heart on the golf course; just trying to inspire every week. Obviously that does help when you're kind of not having your best day and you see people that are still cheering for you and you still have fans. That's the best part of this game. Just always having people by your side even when you don't have a team to lean on. It's good to have your team outside of the golf course when you're not on it.
But it's always great to have that support on and off the golf course, even if you have the best day or the worst day.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports