Bailey Tardy, a 26-year-old rookie on the LPGA Tour with family connections to Douglas, finished tied for fourth (-3) at the Women’s US Open at Pebble Beach Sunday.
Tardy led the tournament over the first 36 holes but faltered a little on Saturday and Sunday. Still, her 73 on Sunday secured a tie for fourth place and a $482,136 payday. Tardy began the tournament with a 69 then a 68. Saturday, she shot 75 and followed that with a final-round 73.
Tardy’s grandmother, Claire Tardy, and Gail Kirkland of Douglas, are sisters. Thomas, Gail’s husband, Gail, and the rest of the Douglas branch of the family tree have kept up with Tardy’s career since she picked up a golf club.
And what a career it has been.
Tardy, who has visited Douglas several times and even played a round or two at the Douglas Golf and Country Club, was originally a soccer player. When her soccer club folded, she was looking for another sport to play. Her father, Bob, suggested golf. Tardy agreed and from her first swing, it became apparent that she had some natural talent for the game.
Early in her high school career, colleges started calling. Tardy is from Norcross and she soon realized that she wouldn’t have to go far from home to play at the highest level of collegiate golf. As a sophomore, she committed to the University of Georgia. In 2016, she was named SEC Freshman of the Year.
Her career highlights include a win at the 2018 Georgia Women’s State Amateur Championship. That same year, she turned pro and joined the Epson Tour. Tardy has one victory on the Epson — the 2021 Copper Rock Championship. During her time on the Epson Tour, she amassed career earnings of $200,599.
Tardy played well on the Epson Tour last year, making the cut in 12 of 21 starts and finishing in the top five four different times. She played well enough to earn an LPGA card for the 2023 season.
Tardy, who was ranked 455th in the world before this weekend, has played in 10 LPGA events this year; prior to Sunday, her best finish came at the LOTTE Championship where she ended up tied in 23rd. She won just over $18,000 for that tournament, almost half of the $37,438 she had won before the US Open.
The life of a touring professional is a grueling one, particularly when you’re in the middle of the pack trying to earn enough money to keep your pro card. A placing like this can jumpstart a golfer’s career and provide a little breathing room — the kind of breathing room that gives a player the opportunity to focus on her game instead of worrying about the ancillary pressures of staying on the tour.
Now the world will get to see just how good Bailey Tardy can be.
LPGA.com contributed to this story.