As teenage phenom Asterisk Talley emerges, women’s golf wrestles with how to protect her

ERIN, Wis. — From a distance, Asterisk Talley can look like a teenager trying to be an adult. Standing on the first tee at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur was a look of polished professionalism. TaylorMade sponsorship on her hat. Scripted Adidas fits to match Augusta colors — yellow shirt, green skirt, white Sambas with green stripes. Oh no, was this another prodigy the machine snatched up too young?

Until you saw that first hole, as her approach into Augusta National’s brutal first green spun back into the cup for an opening eagle, something only done by five men in Masters history. She didn’t see it go in, so at first she kept walking with her putter in hand. Then she heard the roars. And more roars. Oh shoot, it went in?

The kid underneath suddenly became present. Her arms confusedly shot into the air with her putter still in hand. Her face broke into a goofy, laughing smile of pure joy.

That’s right. A reminder. Asterisk Talley is just 16. No matter what happens next for her, we mustn’t forget that.

At 2:09 p.m. Thursday, Talley will tee off at the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills, and she will be framed as the next young star in women’s golf. And it will be valid. She’s the California prodigy who racks up junior wins, who finished runner-up at both…