Asterisk Talley skips signing day as LPGA pathway opens up
By Rick Dowling ·
The top girl in the Class of 2027 is weighing two strong paths, and her decision shows how much the road from junior golf to the next level has changed.
Signing day is a finish line for most juniors. For Asterisk Talley, it became a pause.
Talley is the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and the top-ranked girl in the Class of 2027. She did not sign a letter of intent on Wednesday, the opening day of the early signing period, per Golf Digest. She gave Stanford a verbal commitment more than a year ago, but she told Golf Channel that playing college golf is now undecided and that she’ll think it through over the coming months.
The reason is the LPGA’s Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). Through her results in amateur and pro events, Talley has 15 of the 20 points needed to earn an LPGA card by July 1, 2027. Her U.S. Women’s Am title exempts her into four LPGA majors next year. Each made cut is worth a point, and a top-25 finish adds another. She can also earn points by climbing in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (she’s currently No. 4) or by winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April. Lottie Woad was the first player to earn a card through LEAP, in 2025.
Golf Digest reports Talley likely wouldn’t turn pro before July 1 even if she gets to 20 points early. Waiting until then would give her status for the rest of 2027 and all of 2028. If she falls short, Stanford is still there. “Both have their upsides and their cons, too,” she told Golf Channel.
She was also named the AJGA’s Rolex Girls Player of the Year this week.
The Hub’s take: Talley’s choice is rare, but the lesson isn’t. Smart families keep more than one door open and let results guide the timeline. Signing day is a checkpoint, not a verdict.
What this means for you: Most players won’t be weighing a tour card. Every player, though, is weighing fit: academics, competition level, coaching, and timing. Knowing what each option offers before a deadline arrives makes the decision yours.
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