JP Hayes was born on August 2nd, 1965 in Appleton, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Texas before turning pro in 1989. Hayes first featured on the PGA Tour in 1997. The following year he won his first tournament, the Buick Classic beating Jim Furyk in a playoff.

After this win Hayes became a consistent performer on tour and added a second title in 2002 by winning the John Deere Classic. Since then he has struggled on the tour finishing outside the top 125 in both 2004 and 2005. He regained his place on the PGA Tour for the 2007 season.