Asterisk Talley has been swinging effectively and ranks number one on the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur leaderboard with a total of 11-under through two rounds. She made an eagle and nine birdies in the first two days at Champions Retreat, without making a single bogey. Ryan Zak, her caddie, plays a crucial role in her success. But what do we know about him? And wasn’t the high-ranking amateur golfer, Miles Russell, going to caddie for Talley at ANWA?

Who is carrying the bag for Asterisk Talley at ANWA?

Ryan Zak is returning to carry the bag for Talley after Miles Russell withdrew to focus on the Lecom Suncoast Classic at the Korn Ferry Tour. Thankfully, Zak was already there at Augusta National to watch the amateur golfer swing her way through Champions Retreat, and he pounced on the chance when Talley asked him to replace Russell.

“I did it last year, so I was prepared. I brought what I needed to be prepared in the event that something happened. I didn’t think it was going to, and I came out to hang out,” Zak revealed.

“Dad [James] knows I’m on standby whenever they need me; that’s what I told them years ago. They were kind enough to invite me out to be a fan. My vacation got cut short by a few days. I got put to work. It’s been great.”

Zak caddied for Talley for the first time in 2024. And their partnership pushed the golfer to a T8 finish with rounds of 72-75-70. Last year, too, the duo entered the Georgian golf course together, and Talley ended up becoming the runner-up at the 2025 ANWA. And this time, things seem a lot stronger with bogey-free rounds of 66 and 67 on the Champions Retreat.

Talley said, “Then he obviously knows the course since he caddied last year, so I mean, we’re just having some fun out there.”

But how compatible is Talley with someone like Zak?

What does the relationship between Talley and Zak look like?

“He’s just pretty chill. I like a caddie who is helpful but not too pushy, and I think he’s great at finding the middle in that. He knows that I know how to play golf and what I do need help with,” the 17-year-old Californian said about her caddie.

Like any other golfer, Asterisk Talley prefers a caddie who helps without being too pushy. But he’s also a close friend of her father, James Talley.

It’s worth noting that Zak gave a few tips to Talley regarding her stance in the bunker on her ninth hole at Champions Retreat. The advice seemingly worked out well, and the young golfer hit an eagle. It also became a record at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur by hitting 31 points in the first nine holes of the tournament.

Reflecting on that particular shot, Zak claimed, “I can’t wait to see it. We could barely see it from her vantage point. We knew it went in, but I’d like to see how it rolled out and what the pace was. Didn’t see all that. It’s always cool when something drops for an eagle. I asked her when the last time she holed out from the bunker was, and she couldn’t remember, so it was pretty special to do it here.”

But that brings us to an important question. Did that productive advice come from Zak being a full-time professional caddie?

Is Ryan Zak a full-time caddie?

Ryan Zak is not a professional tour caddie or a high-profile loop regular. He’s simply a trusted amateur-level caddie.

While Zak acts as a caddie for Asterisk Talley, he’s an instructor at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in Galt. That’s the same role as that of Talley’s father, who’s also a California corrections officer and a former graphic designer. And their primary career lies outside the golf course.

Ryan Zak carried the bag for Talley upon her first-ever appearance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2024, only as a longtime family friend, right after attending the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open and seeing Talley receive the low-amateur honors. And he might not have taken up the role had he not been a close associate of the Talleys.

For Talley, the formula is simple: comfort over complexity. And that shows in her latest run at ANWA. And Ryan Zak has certainly played a significant role in her standout performance at the prestigious course. From stepping in at the last minute after Miles Russell’s withdrawal to helping guide crucial shots on the course, his impact has been both timely and effective.