Talley Embarks On Second Big Break Adventure

BOULDER—Former All-American women’s golfer Emily Talley will embark upon her second Big Break adventure in less than a year on the heels of her rookie season on the Symetra Tour. Big Break NFL Puerto Rico debuts on the Golf Channel Tuesday night.

Talley, fresh off her appearance on Big Break Mexico and her teammate Issac Sanchez, who was on Big Break Greenbrier, had no idea that Big Break Puerto Rico would turn into Big Break NFL Puerto Rico.

“The really special thing about Big Break NFL was that I originally thought it was just Big Break Puerto Rico,” Talley said. “I was completely blindsided by the NFL surprise and as you will see in the first episode, it definitely showed how surprised I was. Issac and I were both 49er fans and we looked like little kids on Christmas Day when they announced the Jerry Rice would be our teammate.”

The 20th season of the popular reality show takes place at the Ritz Carlton Reserve at Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico. Said Talley, “This was the most amazing resort and golf course I have ever had the pleasure to visit.”

Talley said there was “absolute shock but some serious excitement along with it,” at the announcement that Jerry Rice would be their teammate. Both from Northern California, Isaac first started putting things together.

“He called it when they started announcing the names,” Talley said. “We were the last ones in line and he said ‘Emily, we got Jerry.’ I said he was crazy but then it made sense. We were ‘Team Red’ and both from Northern California. I don’t think they’ll be able to show how excited we were because that may take up too much time for the first episode.”

Of playing with Rice, Talley said, “he was awesome. He’s a great golfer with a lot of amazing wisdom. I learned a lot about how to deal with nerves and heard a lot of stories from the greatest of all time.”

Talley can’t divulge much about the season and fans will have to tune in to see what happens, but she did leak a little information. “There was some turmoil on other teams this season of Big Break but Team Rice was tight as can be, we supported each other and built one another up. I couldn’t have asked for better camaraderie. Get ready for some fun shows again.”

Talley recently put the wraps on her rookie season on the Symetra Tour. She played in 13 events and made 10 cuts, finishing 45th on the money list and secured her full status on the tour for the 2014 season. She had five top 20s and one top 10, a ninth place finish at the Volvik Championship in her second-to-last event.

Talley also played in the Colorado Open and finished fourth.

“My rookie season was definitely the experience of a lifetime and I’m very pleased with my performance,” Talley said. “Although I know I could’ve done better, I feel like I handled my first year as a professional very well. This year finished on a very good note and I am looking forward to my next season on the Symetra Tour. I have gained so much experience and I learned how to handle the pressure and nerves so well so I feel very good about my second year on tour.”