Emma Talley Knew it Was Time to Move On With Her Life

Emma Talley Photo

Emma Talley is 30 years old and says she has never had a job.

Actually, she won over $1.4 million on the LPGA Tour in the last seven years but never considered golf a job. Now she’s retired from golf, expecting her first child in June and contemplating what career path she might take.

She started planning for her future last year when she did work for the LPGA Tour and ESPN, ran a podcast and volunteered as an assistant coach for the Western Kentucky women’s golf team.

“I remember commentating for ESPN and how much fun that was,” Talley said. “The only problem is that I love all of the things I tried. Now I have to try and figure out the direction I want to go or keep dabbling in all of them.”

Talley figured out during the 2024 LPGA Tour season that she actually did enjoy things other than golf.

“Most professional athletes have never worked before,” the Kentucky native said. “I didn’t know what else I would like to do. It soon became evident there were a lot of things I like.

“That makes retiring less scary. Plus, me and my husband wanted children, so it was just time (to retire). You kind of know if you want to keep trying to grind and beat Nelly Korda. My priorities started shifting, so I figured out it was time to move on with my life. I am excited about the next chapter even though I am still not sure what I will do.”

Her husband, Patrick Smith, will continue to caddie on the LPGA Tour for Gabi Ruffels in 2025 while Talley will focus on motherhood.

“I definitely think parenthood might change his mind (about caddying). He has been on the LPGA Tour one year longer than me,” the Princeton native said. “Those people on Tour are our friends, our family. We have had engagement parties, baby showers with them. He loves his job. He started a caddy association on the LPGA Tour. He loves to caddy and is a really good golfer but ‘happy wife, happy life’ so we’ll just see what happens.”