Bailey Tardy Bio
Madison Bailey Tardy, known professionally as Bailey Tardy, is an American professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour. Born on August 8, 1996, she turned professional in 2018 after a distinguished amateur and collegiate career at the University of Georgia. Tardy earned her LPGA Tour card in late 2022 and secured her first LPGA Tour victory in 2024, establishing herself as a rising presence in women’s professional golf.
Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, Tardy combines a strong amateur pedigree with steady professional progress. Her career highlights include an Epson Tour victory, a top-five finish at a major championship, and recognition as a Rolex First-Time Winner. She continues to be regarded as one of the emerging talents on the LPGA Tour.
Early Life and Background
Bailey Tardy developed her game through a highly successful junior career that included AJGA Rolex All-American honors in 2013, 2014, and 2015. She also represented her region in the Wyndham Cup during each of those three seasons. At the 2013 Symetra Tour Championship, she finished tied for 27th, and the same year she earned medalist honors at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, signaling her early potential.
While still an amateur, Tardy qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2014, 2016, and 2017. Her most promising appearance came in 2017, when she opened with a 70 to sit tied for 13th before a second-round 82 ended her week. She added the 2015 North and South Women’s Amateur title to her resume and captured the 2018 Georgia State Amateur wire-to-wire by eight strokes, finishing at 8-under 208. She was also low amateur at the 2018 Georgia Women’s Open, placing third overall at 2-under 142.
Tardy played collegiate golf at the University of Georgia, where she was named the 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year. In 2016, she represented the United States at the Curtis Cup at Dún Laoghaire Golf Club in Ireland, posting a 3-2 individual record as Great Britain and Ireland won the team competition 11.5 to 8.5.
Path to Golf
Tardy’s transition into competitive golf was built on consistent amateur results and national team experience. Her AJGA accolades, U.S. Girls’ Junior title, and multiple U.S. Women’s Open qualifications demonstrated she could perform against elite competition before college. Those credentials gave her a clear foundation as she moved into the collegiate and professional ranks.
At the University of Georgia, she balanced academics with high-level competition, earning SEC Freshman of the Year recognition in 2016 and gaining valuable team experience at the Curtis Cup. After her fall 2018 semester, she chose to turn professional while remaining in school to complete her degree, which she earned in May 2019. She earned Epson Tour membership through the LPGA Q-Series, setting the stage for her professional career.
Bailey Tardy Career
Epson Tour Years (2019–2022)
Bailey Tardy joined the Epson Tour in 2019 and quickly became a consistent contender. In 2020, she finished sixth on the money list, narrowly missing LPGA Tour promotion by just $343. The following season, she captured her first professional victory at the 2021 Copper Rock Championship by three shots, although she again fell short of promotion, ending the year 12th on the money list with 10 cards available.
In 2022, Tardy recorded four top-five finishes on the Epson Tour and ultimately earned her LPGA Tour card by finishing second at the LPGA Q-Series. Her steady progression through the developmental circuit reflected both her patience and her competitive consistency.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2023–2024)
In her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2023, Tardy made an immediate impact at the U.S. Women’s Open, where she held the second-round lead before finishing tied for fourth and earning $482,136. The result marked one of the strongest major-championship debuts by a first-year LPGA player in recent memory.
On March 10, 2024, Tardy captured her first LPGA Tour title at the Blue Bay LPGA, winning by four strokes over Sarah Schmelzel. The victory confirmed her status among the tour’s emerging players. In November 2024, she received the Rolex First-Time Winners award in recognition of the achievement.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering the 2025 season, Tardy continued her presence across the LPGA Tour schedule, including appearances in the major championships. Her rookie momentum and first victory positioned her as a player to watch as she sought further consistency in her second full season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Tardy’s career has been marked by several signature moments, including her medalist finish at the 2013 U.S. Girls’ Junior, her 2015 North and South Women’s Amateur title, and her eight-stroke win at the 2018 Georgia State Amateur. Her 2023 U.S. Women’s Open performance and her four-stroke victory at the 2024 Blue Bay LPGA stand as her most significant professional milestones to date.
Bailey Tardy Career Wins
Bailey Tardy has recorded two professional victories across her career, split between the Epson Tour and the LPGA Tour. Her wins reflect a steady progression from the developmental circuit to the top level of women’s golf.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Tardy’s lone LPGA Tour victory came at the 2024 Blue Bay LPGA, where she defeated Sarah Schmelzel by four strokes. The win was followed later that year by the Rolex First-Time Winners award, recognizing her breakthrough season.
Epson Tour Highlights
Tardy earned her first professional title at the 2021 Copper Rock Championship, winning by three shots. She added four top-five finishes in 2022 before securing her LPGA Tour card through the Q-Series.
Bailey Tardy Family
Personal Life
Bailey Tardy resides in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, the same state where she played collegiate golf at the University of Georgia. She completed her degree at UGA in May 2019 after turning professional in late 2018, balancing her academic and competitive commitments.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 LPGA Tour season represented Bailey Tardy’s second full year on the tour following her 2024 breakthrough at the Blue Bay LPGA. She continued to compete across a full schedule of events, including the major championships, building on the experience gained during her rookie campaign.
Her major-championship appearances in 2025 included the Chevron Championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the U.S. Women’s Open, where she was looking to build on her tied-for-fourth finish from 2023. Her established comfort on big stages remained a defining feature of her play.
With one LPGA Tour title and a developing résumé of consistent finishes, Tardy entered the latter half of 2025 aiming to add to her win total and solidify her place among the tour’s rising stars.