Emma Talley Bio
Emma Ruth Talley is an American retired professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. Born and raised in Kentucky, she first gained national attention as an amateur, capturing the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur while competing for the University of Alabama. After turning professional in 2016, she built a steady career across the Symetra Tour and the LPGA Tour, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational. She announced her retirement from professional golf in early 2025.
Early Life and Background
Emma Ruth Talley was born on March 23, 1994, in Paducah, Kentucky. She is the daughter of Dan Talley and Jennifer Talley and grew up alongside an older sister, Leigh Anne, and two brothers, Joe Dan and Jackson. The family raised her in Princeton, Kentucky, where she attended Caldwell County High School.
During her high school years, Talley became one of the most accomplished young golfers in the state. She was a three-time Kentucky state girls golf champion, winning the title in 2008, 2010, and 2011. Her early competitive success laid a clear foundation for a future in the sport and helped establish her as one of the top amateur prospects in the country.
Path to Professional Golf
Talley joined the University of Alabama women’s golf team, where she spent four years developing her game at the highest level of collegiate competition. In 2015, she won the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida, finishing at 3-under-par 285 and edging out Gaby López of Arkansas and Leona Maguire of Duke by one stroke. That same year, she was named the winner of the Honda Sports Award for golf.
Beyond her NCAA title, Talley was a four-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-America selection, earning First Team honors in 2015 and 2016, Second Team honors in 2013, and Honorable Mention in 2014. She also earned Golfweek Second Team All-America recognition in 2016 and was a four-time All-SEC selection, including First Team All-SEC in 2016. These results positioned her as one of the most decorated amateurs in the country heading into the professional ranks.
Emma Talley Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Talley first announced herself on the national stage in 2008, when she was part of the victorious U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team that defeated Europe 22–2. Five years later, on August 11, 2013, she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur, defeating Yueer Cindy Feng 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final match. The victory cemented her reputation as a rising star in American golf.
During her amateur career, Talley competed in nearly every LPGA major, with her best finish coming at the 2014 Ricoh Women’s British Open, where she earned low amateur honors. She turned professional in 2016, joining the Symetra Tour that same year. Her rookie season included three top-10 finishes in 14 starts, highlighted by a runner-up result at the Fuccillo Kia Championship on June 3.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2018–2021)
Talley began her rookie year on the LPGA Tour in 2018 and made an immediate impression. She recorded two top-10 finishes, placing seventh at the Women’s Australian Open and fifth at the Hugel-JTBC LA Open. She made 21 cuts in 27 events and finished 52nd on the money list with earnings of more than $420,000, establishing herself as a consistent presence on tour.
Her most notable professional finish came in 2021, when she posted a runner-up result at the ISPS Handa World Invitational. She lost in a playoff to Pajaree Anannarukarn on the second extra hole, finishing with an LPGA Tour playoff record of 0–1. The performance represented the high point of her professional career and reflected the steady progress she had made since turning pro in 2016.
Later Career and Retirement (2022–2025)
After her 2021 breakthrough, Talley continued to compete on the LPGA Tour while balancing her personal life. In January 2023, she married Patrick Smith, a New Zealand professional caddie, and the couple settled outside of Nashville, Tennessee. In early 2025, she announced her retirement from professional golf.
Notable Events and Milestones
Talley’s career is defined by a series of meaningful milestones, beginning with her role on the 2008 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. Her 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur title and 2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship stand as the two most prestigious victories of her career. The 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational runner-up finish capped her time on the LPGA Tour, and her 2018 rookie season earnings of more than $420,000 marked her strongest financial year on tour.
Emma Talley Career Wins
Emma Talley recorded one professional win during her career, which came on the Epson Tour. While she did not secure a victory on the LPGA Tour, she posted several strong finishes, including her runner-up result at the 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational. As an amateur, she added a major title at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship to her resume.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to her Epson Tour victory, Talley was a three-time Kentucky state girls golf champion during her high school years at Caldwell County High School. She was also a key contributor to the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team in 2008, helping lead the squad to a dominant 22–2 victory over Europe. These amateur achievements helped shape the foundation of her professional career.
Emma Talley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Emma Ruth Talley comes from a close-knit family rooted in western Kentucky. Her parents, Dan and Jennifer Talley, raised her alongside her older sister, Leigh Anne, and her two brothers, Joe Dan and Jackson. The supportive family environment in Princeton, Kentucky, played a key role in her development as a young golfer.
Personal Life
Talley married New Zealand professional caddie Patrick Smith in January 2023. The couple resides outside of Nashville, Tennessee. In 2025, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter.
2025 Season Performance
Talley announced her retirement from professional golf in early 2025, bringing an end to a career that began on the Symetra Tour in 2016. Her final years on the LPGA Tour were marked by consistency and a strong showing in 2021, when she earned her lone runner-up finish at a full LPGA event. Her decision to step away followed the birth of her daughter in 2025.
Although she no longer competes, Talley’s legacy includes a U.S. Women’s Amateur title, an NCAA Division I Women’s Championship, and a distinguished amateur record. Her journey from a three-time Kentucky state champion to an LPGA Tour player reflects years of steady development and competitive achievement.