Taylor Montgomery Bio
Taylor Allen Montgomery (born January 30, 1995) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. A Las Vegas native, he reached the top level of professional golf through the Korn Ferry Tour and is regarded as one of the most promising putters of his generation. He turned professional in 2017 and has since competed at the highest levels of the sport.
Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and weighing 215 lb (98 kg), Montgomery combines a long, athletic frame with a short-game touch refined during years of competitive play. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, the city where he was born and raised.
Early Life and Background
Taylor Allen Montgomery was born on January 30, 1995, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the son of Mikella and Monte Montgomery. He grew up in Las Vegas and attended Foothill High School, where he lettered all four years in golf. In addition to golf, he was a starter for the school’s basketball team from 2011 to 2013, playing as a forward.
His father, Monte, was originally from Colorado and was a walk-on golfer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Monte played for the UNLV Rebels from 1989 to 1992, earning second-team All-American honors, and later made a sole appearance on the PGA Tour in 1994 after Monday qualifying for the Buick Invitational of California at Torrey Pines Golf Course, where he finished 24th. Monte later served as the general manager at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, ensuring that Taylor grew up immersed in the game.
Path to Professional Golf
Montgomery followed in his father’s footsteps by attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he played collegiate golf under the long-time head coach Dwaine Knight. He and his father became the first father-son combination to have both played under Coach Knight at UNLV. As a sophomore in 2014, he won the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational with a score of 10-under 206, finishing one stroke ahead of AJ McInerney and Yannik Paul.
His final two seasons at UNLV were more difficult. He struggled to keep the ball in play, occasionally restricting himself to a 2-iron off the tee for entire tournaments. Despite these challenges, his teammates recognized his short-game gifts, with Harry Hall noting that Montgomery had always been a great chipper and putter. He majored in communications and graduated from UNLV in 2017 before turning professional that same year.
Taylor Montgomery Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
After turning professional in 2017, Montgomery quickly announced his arrival by winning the inaugural Major Series of Putting tournament in October of that year. He took home $75,000 for the individual title and added another $15,000 by winning the team portion of the event with his former UNLV teammate Kurt Kitayama. The prize money helped fund his transition into competitive professional golf.
In September 2018, he birdied the first playoff hole to win the Sand Hollow Leavitt Group Open, a mini-tour event in Utah. That victory earned him an exemption to compete in the 2019 Utah Championship on the Web.com Tour, then the official developmental circuit of the PGA Tour.
Korn Ferry Tour Breakthrough
Montgomery progressed through the Korn Ferry Tour, where he posted strong finishes and built the resume required for PGA Tour membership. He recorded a playoff appearance on the Korn Ferry Tour, finishing with a 0–1 playoff record during that developmental stage of his career. His consistency on the circuit earned him a PGA Tour card.
He reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 51 on January 29, 2023, cementing his place among the game’s top players and validating his path through the developmental ranks.
PGA Tour Era
Since joining the PGA Tour, Montgomery has competed in major championships, posting a T65 at the 2023 PGA Championship and a T57 at the 2021 U.S. Open. He has continued to represent his hometown of Las Vegas on the game’s biggest stages and remains an active PGA Tour member.
Driving Style and Strengths
Montgomery is widely recognized for the strength of his short game. Teammates and coaches have pointed to his chipping and putting as his most reliable tools, skills that have allowed him to remain competitive even when his ball-striking has wavered. His experience playing a 2-iron off the tee during difficult stretches at UNLV also speaks to a creative, course-management-oriented approach.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his early signature moments, his playoff victory at the 2018 Sand Hollow Leavitt Group Open stands out as the result that opened the door to professional tour golf. Reaching a career-high ranking of 51 in January 2023 marked another milestone, confirming his arrival on the PGA Tour.
Taylor Montgomery Career Wins
Taylor Allen Montgomery has recorded one professional win during his career, supplemented by additional amateur and mini-tour victories that helped launch his professional trajectory.
PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
His professional breakthrough came with his victory at the 2018 Sand Hollow Leavitt Group Open on the mini-tour, a win that earned him a start at the 2019 Utah Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. He has since competed regularly on the PGA Tour and reached a career-high ranking of 51 in January 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his lone professional victory, Montgomery captured the inaugural Major Series of Putting event in October 2017, winning both the individual title and the team competition alongside Kurt Kitayama. Earlier, he won the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational during his sophomore season at UNLV in 2014 and claimed Nevada’s 4A boys high school individual championship in both 2011 and 2013.
Taylor Montgomery Family
Family Background and Golf Lineage
Montgomery comes from a golfing family. His father, Monte Montgomery, played collegiate golf at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and later made a PGA Tour appearance in 1994. The two became the first father-son combination to have both played under longtime UNLV coach Dwaine Knight. His mother, Mikella Montgomery, raised Taylor in Las Vegas, where the family has long been connected to the game through Monte’s role as general manager at Shadow Creek Golf Course.
Personal Life
Montgomery was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and continues to make his home there. He attended Foothill High School and later the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, graduating in 2017 with a degree in communications. He remains connected to his hometown, training and competing out of Las Vegas.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 PGA Tour season, Montgomery looked to build on his career-high world ranking of 51 and his established status as one of the tour’s most reliable putters. With a full PGA Tour card secured, he has continued to compete in regular Tour events as well as selected major championships, leveraging his short-game strengths on courses that reward precision around and on the greens.
His major-championship experience includes a T57 at the 2021 U.S. Open and a T65 at the 2023 PGA Championship, both of which provide a foundation for future contention. As the season progresses, Montgomery’s focus remains on converting his short-game edge into higher finishes and continued upward movement in the Official World Golf Ranking.