AUGUSTA, Ga. – As Maria Jose Marin ran off the 18th green at Augusta National and into her father’s arms, Asterisk Talley was back in the fairway checking the wind.

Talley was in command early at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on a bright and buzzy Saturday, building her lead to three on the front nine. But there would no coronation for the 17-year-old phenom — not after a disastrous quadruple-bogey seven on 12th hole ended her chances. Talley had actually talked about such uncomfortable things the day prior during her Friday press conference.

“I mean, we’ve all watched the Masters, right?” she said laughing. “With all the meltdowns that happen on Amen Corner, and anything can happen, someone can make a 10 or someone can make a 1, right? So anything can happen really.”

Twenty-four hours later, Talley had her own Augusta horror story to tell.

When it was her turn to walk off the 18th green, childhood friend Bryson DeChambeau was waiting with a warm hug and encouraging words. Then came Annika Sorenstam.

“You’re the best player out here,” Sorenstam told her. “Just don’t let this get to your head. Don’t let it beat you up.”

Talley, who closed with a 75 after another bogey on the 15th and a double on the 16th, broke down in tears after she met with her parents in front of the clubhouse. She stood there for a long time near the old Oak tree, gathering herself.

In time, she delivered a heartfelt, teary-eyed press conference, taking her time to graciously answer 17 questions from a small group of reporters.

“I’m just a little emotional,” said Talley, “Not only because I didn’t get it done today, but also just everyone is so supportive. It’s hard when they have to watch that and see you not do well or not accomplish what you wanted. I still played fine today, even though that one hole just kind of got me.

“Other than that, it doesn’t define me as a golfer. I know what kind of player I am.”

On the 12th tee box, with wind swirling, the powerful Talley pulled an 8-iron and overshot the green, landing in the back bunker. She had aimed to hit the ball 155 yards, thinking the wind was into her, and she didn’t want to come up short.

Her bunker shot went over the front side of the green and into the water, and she interestingly opted to drop in the bunker and hit it again from the same spot.

“I thought, since we could rake the bunker, maybe we could get it to not be so hard,” she explained. “It was still the same after dropping. Of course, when you drop, your ball sits down in the bunker.”

Talley hit a second shot in the water, and then made the long, dreadful walk back over the bridge to take another drop. She finished with a seven on the famed hole known as Golden Bell, ultimately dropping to a share of fourth.

Talley played the first two rounds at Champions Retreat bogey-free, extending her streak to 48 holes, dating back to last year. Add in the first 10 holes of Saturday’s round and it was a whopping 58 holes without dropping a shot, until she got to Amen Corner.

Talley has shed tears after tough losses in the past, such as the pair of runner-up finishes two summers ago at the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior. But nothing has ever stung like this.

“It’s a gift from God to walk this course,” said Talley through tears when asked about the hurt, “I think I’m just so blessed to be here. It just wasn’t my day today, but it’s OK.”

After she wrapped up her time with the press, DeChambeau met with her for a long, animated pep talk in front a lingering crowd. Years ago, the pair spent time together learning from instructor Mike Schy in his tent at Dragonfly Golf Club in Madera, California. DeChambeau had always admired the youngster’s tenacity.

“Her ability to say ‘I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to do it,’” said DeChambeau of what he saw in Talley from a young age. “Same passion I had. It’s what made me feel there were a lot of similarities.”

It’s from the losses that you learn the most, DeChambeau told her on Saturday. Like last year at the Masters, or when he sat in the back of a bus in college and cried after playing some of the worst golf of his career at Pasatiempo.

“She’s going to be one of the best players in the world one day and she knows it,” DeChambeau said. “I told her the most important thing is how you handle yourself, and how you showcase yourself to inspire others.”

On Saturday at Augusta National, Talley’s misfortune revealed her character — and it’s as strong as her golf game.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Bryson DeChambeau gives Asterisk Talley pep talk after Augusta loss