Asterisk Talley's ANWA hopes evaporate with 12th hole blowup at Augusta National

Asterisk Talley's ANWA hopes evaporate with 12th hole blowup at Augusta National Josh Schrock 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.