LPGA’s Emma Talley Retires, Embarks on New Chapter as Mother and Mentor

Emma Talley, the beloved LPGA golfer from Princeton, Kentucky, has announced her retirement from professional golf after a decade-long career. The 30-year-old, who is expecting her first child in June, revealed that 2024 will be her final season on the tour. Talley, known for her infectious personality and community engagement, plans to focus on motherhood while staying involved in golf through media roles and mentoring young players.

Talley’s journey began at age 12 when she attended her first LPGA event in Nashville with her father. She went on to become one of only six players in history to win both the NCAA Championship and the U.S. Women's Amateur. Despite not securing a win on the LPGA Tour, Talley earned 10 top-10 finishes, including a third-place finish at the 2023 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

“I think you have to fall in love with the process,” Talley said, reflecting on her career. “I was so obsessed with winning that I kind of lost track of the process a little bit.” Her decision to retire was influenced by her desire to embrace new challenges, including her recent work in media roles for the LPGA and her involvement with the Western Kentucky University women’s golf team.

Talley’s husband, Patrick Smith, will continue caddying on the LPGA Tour for Gabi Ruffels in 2025. The couple shared a heartwarming moment when Talley revealed her pregnancy to Smith while he was caddying in Asia. “He choked on his dinner to the point his companions almost had to do the Heimlich,” Talley recalled with a laugh.

As she steps away from competitive golf, Talley leaves behind a legacy of kindness and connection. “I wish I would’ve won more trophies, but in 50 years, I’m not going to be thinking about the trophies,” she said. “I’m going to be thinking about all the memories I’ve made with friends and my parents.”