Jason Day facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Day
Day in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Jason Anthony Day
Nickname	J.D., Jaydee, Jay Day
Born	(1987-11-12) 12 November 1987 (age 37) Beaudesert, Queensland, Australia
Height	6 ft 0 in
Weight	88.5 kg (195 lb; 13.94 st)
Nationality	Australia
Residence	Forest Lake, Queensland, Australia Westerville, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse	Ellie Harvey ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	5
Career
Turned professional	2006
Current tour(s)	PGA Tour
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour of Australasia
Professional wins	19
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	13
European Tour	3
Web.com Tour	1
Other	5
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1)
The Masters Tournament	T2: 2011
U.S. Open	2nd/T2: 2011, 2013
The Open Championship	T2: 2023
PGA Championship	Won: 2015
Achievements and awards
Mark H. McCormack Award	2016

Jason Anthony Day (born on 12 November 1987) is an Australian professional golfer. He became a professional golfer at a young age. Jason joined the PGA Tour in his late teens. He won his first big event, the HP Byron Nelson Championship, in his third season.

In 2015, Jason had an amazing year. He won five tournaments, including the PGA Championship. This is a very important golf competition, known as a major championship. After these wins, he became the number one golfer in the world! He continued to play very well in 2016. He won three more tournaments, including The Players Championship. He also kept his spot as the world's top golfer. After 2016, his performance changed a lot. He even dropped out of the top 100 golfers. But in 2023, he made a great comeback. He won the AT&T Byron Nelson again, which was the same tournament where he got his first win. He also returned to the top 20 golfers in the world.

Early life and golf beginnings

Jason Day was born in Beaudesert, Queensland, Australia. His father, Alvin, was from an Irish Australian family. His mother, Dening, moved to Australia from the Philippines in the early 1980s. Jason has two sisters, Yanna and Kim.

When Jason was just six years old, his father took him to the Beaudesert Golf Club. He signed him up as a junior member. Jason was allowed to play six holes of golf each day. When he was eight, his family moved to Rockhampton. During this time, he started winning golf events in the areas nearby. Sadly, Jason's father, Alvin, passed away from stomach cancer when Jason was 12 years old.

After his father's death, Jason's mother sent him to Kooralbyn International School. This school had its own golf course. Later, he went to Hills International College. This college had a special golf academy. His coach, Col Swatton, had moved there after the Kooralbyn school closed. Jason borrowed a book about Tiger Woods from his roommate. This book really inspired him to get better at golf. He started practicing early in the morning, during lunch, and in the evening. He used Tiger Woods' scores from the book as a goal to reach. His first big win was at age 13. This was in a junior event at the 2000 Australian Masters on the Gold Coast. He won with good scores of 87, 78, 76, and 76.

Amateur golf career

Before he became a professional, Jason Day was a very successful amateur golfer. He won the Australian Junior Order of Merit twice. This award recognizes the best junior golfers in Australia. He also finished seventh at the Queensland Open, being the best amateur player there.

In 2004, Jason won the Australian Boys' Amateur championship. His success also reached the United States. He won the Boys 15–17 division at the 2004 Callaway World Junior Championship. He also finished second in the 2005 Porter Cup. Jason was a member of the Golf Australia National Squad. This is a team for top young golfers.

In 2005, Jason almost won a professional event called the Greater Building Society QLD PGA Championship. This was part of the Von Nida Tour. He lost in a playoff to Scott Gardiner after playing four extra holes.

Professional golf career

Early years (2006–2010)

Jason Day became a professional golfer in July 2006. This was after he won the Green Jacket at the NEC Master of the Amateurs. He signed deals with big golf brands like TaylorMade and Adidas. He started playing in PGA Tour events right away. He got into these events mostly through special invitations. He played well, making the cut in five of his first six PGA Tour events. His best finish was eleventh at the Reno-Tahoe Open. He earned over $160,000 in prize money.

He tried to get his PGA Tour card through qualifying school. He did well in the second round, but he didn't play as well in the final rounds. So, he didn't get his PGA Tour card for 2007. Instead, he earned a spot on the Nationwide Tour (now called the Korn Ferry Tour).

In July 2007, Jason won his first Nationwide Tour event. This was the Legend Financial Group Classic. He became the youngest person ever to win on any of the PGA Tour's three tours. This win helped him move up to eighth on the Nationwide Tour's money list. He finished 5th on the money list, which earned him his PGA Tour card for 2008. His 2008 season was okay, and he kept a conditional spot for 2009. A second-place finish at the Puerto Rico Open helped him keep his card for 2010. He finished 69th on the money list that year.

In May 2010, Jason made history again. He became the youngest Australian to win a PGA Tour event. This was at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. He also got to play in his first major championship, the 2010 Open Championship. He made the cut and finished tied for 60th place. In August 2010, he played in the PGA Championship. He shot a great score of 66 on Saturday. This helped him finish in the top 10 for the first time in a major. He continued his good play during the FedEx Cup playoffs. He finished in the top five in the first two playoff events. This allowed him to play in the final event, the Tour Championship. He finished tied for 17th there. Jason ended the 2010 season ranked 21st on the PGA Tour money list.

Challenging for majors (2011–2014)

At the 2011 Masters Tournament, Jason Day played very well. He made birdies on the last two holes. He finished just two strokes behind the winner, Charl Schwartzel. Jason tied for second place with Adam Scott. His score of −12 set a new Masters record for the lowest score by a first-time player. This was his best performance in a major championship so far. He was tied for the lead many times during the final round.

In June 2011, Jason played in the 2011 U.S. Open. This was his first time playing in this tournament. After his success at the Masters, he finished second in another major. He was eight strokes behind the winner, Rory McIlroy. He shot the best round on Saturday, a 65. This moved him up to tied for third place. Even though he didn't win, he was the best player among the rest of the field.

Because of his great play in the majors, Jason moved into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He reached ninth place for the first time. Even though he didn't win a tournament in 2011, he finished the season ranked 9th on the PGA Tour money list.

He was a contender in a major again at the 2013 Masters Tournament. He shot rounds of 70 and 68. This gave him a one-shot lead going into the weekend. In the third round, he was tied for the lead through 16 holes. But he made bogeys on the last two holes. He finished two shots behind Brandt Snedeker and Ángel Cabrera. In the final round, Jason started strong with a birdie and an eagle. This gave him a one-shot lead. He later made birdies on holes 13, 14, and 15. This gave him a one-shot lead with three holes left. However, he made bogeys on holes 16 and 17. He just missed a birdie putt on 18 that would have tied for the lead. He finished two shots back in third place.

Jason finished as a runner-up for the third time in a major championship at the 2013 U.S. Open. He tied for second place with Phil Mickelson. They were both two strokes behind Justin Rose. Jason tied for the lead with a birdie on the 10th hole. But bogeys on holes 11, 14, and 18 stopped him from winning his first major. This was his second time finishing second at the U.S. Open. He was also the only player in 2013 to have a lead on the back nine on Sunday at both majors. He tied for the lowest total score in all four majors in 2013 with fellow Australian Adam Scott.

In February 2014, Jason won his first World Golf Championship event. This was the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. In the final, Victor Dubuisson tied the match by winning the last two holes. They played extra holes, and Jason finally won. This win moved Jason up to fourth in the world rankings.

Major champion and World #1 (2015)

In February 2015, Jason Day won his third PGA Tour event. This was his seventh professional title. He won the Farmers Insurance Open with a score of 279 (−9). He won in a playoff against three other players. He won on the second extra hole. This victory moved Jason back to fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking.

During the second round of the 2015 U.S. Open, Jason collapsed on the course. It was later found out that this was due to vertigo. This is a condition that makes you feel dizzy. Even though he wasn't sure if he could play, Jason finished the third round tied for the lead. He ended the tournament tied for 9th place.

At the 2015 Open Championship at St Andrews, Jason was one of the leaders after 54 holes. He shot a score of 70 without any bogeys. He finished at 14-under-par, just one stroke away from a three-way playoff. He had a putt on the last hole to join the playoff, but it was just short. Still, his tied for fourth place was his best finish at the Open Championship. It was also the sixth time he finished in the top 5 of a major without winning.

The very next week, Jason won the RBC Canadian Open. He beat Bubba Watson and David Hearn. He made birdies on the last three holes to win by one stroke.

The 2015 PGA Championship was the last major championship of 2015. It was held at Whistling Straits. Jason Day played incredibly well. He shot rounds of 68, 67, 66, and 67. He beat Jordan Spieth by three strokes. This win also stopped Spieth from winning a third major that season. Jason Day also set a new record. He was the first player in history to finish a major at 20-under-par.

Jason's amazing streak continued. He won The Barclays and the BMW Championship. These were two of the first three events in the FedEx Cup playoffs. Because he won the BMW Championship, Jason became the world number 1 golfer for the first time on 20 September 2015. Jason entered the Tour Championship as the FedEx Cup leader. However, he finished tied for tenth. Jordan Spieth won the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup. Spieth also took back the number one world ranking.

Continued success (2016)

After missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, Jason won his first tournament of 2016. This was the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He beat Kevin Chappell by one shot. Jason led the whole tournament, shooting all four rounds under par. He finished with a total of −17. He made a birdie on the 17th hole in the final round. He then got the ball out of a bunker on the last hole to win. This win moved Jason up to number two in the world rankings, passing Rory McIlroy.

Just one week later, Jason won again at the WGC-Dell Match Play. He passed Jordan Spieth to become world No. 1 again. He beat Louis Oosthuizen 5 and 4 in the final. This was his ninth PGA Tour win.

He then won the 2016 Players Championship by 4 strokes. This was his 10th PGA Tour victory. Other golfers like Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott said his play was like Tiger Woods' amazing performances.

In June, Jason announced that he would not play in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He was worried about the Zika virus. As of July 2016, Jason had earned over $33 million in prize money on the PGA Tour.

Later career (2017–present)

Day at the 2017 Australian Open.

On 1 January 2017, Nike announced that Jason Day was joining Nike Golf. He would wear Nike clothes, shoes, and gloves. This was after Nike decided to stop making golf clubs and balls. Nike Golf made a commercial to announce the deal. It was reported to be worth $10 million a year. Jason used to have the RBC logo on his shirts. But Nike does not allow other sponsorships on their clothes. So, his contract with RBC was not renewed. He still wears the Lexus logo on his left sleeve.

On 13 September 2017, after a season without wins, Jason stopped working with his caddie, Colin Swatton. Colin had been his caddie for 11 years, his whole professional career. Jason said that Colin would still be his swing coach.

In January 2018, Jason won the Farmers Insurance Open for the second time. This was his 11th PGA Tour win. It was also his first win in over 18 months. He won in a sudden-death playoff against Alex Norén and Ryan Palmer. The playoff lasted six extra holes! Palmer was out after the first extra hole. But it took five more holes to decide between Jason and Norén. Play had to stop and finish on Monday. Jason finally won with a birdie on the sixth extra hole. This win put Jason back into the world's top 10 golfers. In May, Jason won the Wells Fargo Championship.

Jason continued to deal with back pain in 2019. He tried new ways to help it. He even said he was "blowing into balloons" to help align his body. This therapy was meant to help his rib cage, hips, and shoulders. This would take pressure off his back.

After the 2019 U.S. Open, Jason had Tiger Woods' former caddie, Steve Williams, working with him. Golf news reported that Williams was very strict. Jason said, "Pretty much when he asks you to do something you pretty much do it." For example, after a tough round, Williams would make Jason go straight to the practice range. Jason said Williams was "very black and white." In August 2019, Jason and Williams stopped working together. They said it was a "disconnect between old school and new school."

On 21 October 2019, Jason won The Challenge: Japan Skins. He beat Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Hideki Matsuyama. Jason was chosen for the International team for the Presidents Cup. But he had to withdraw because of a back injury. An Byeong-hun took his place.

In May 2023, Jason won the AT&T Byron Nelson by one shot. This was his first victory in five years. He also finished second at the 2023 Open Championship. This meant he had finished second at every major championship, which is sometimes called a "runner-up grand slam." In December, Jason won the first-ever Grant Thornton Invitational. This was a mixed team tournament, and he won with his playing partner, Lydia Ko.

Personal life

Jason Day married Ellie Harvey in 2009. Ellie is from Lucas, Ohio. The couple lives in Westerville, Ohio, with their five children. On 17 December 2015, Ellie was watching a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game. A player, LeBron James, accidentally bumped into her while trying to get a loose ball. She was taken out of the arena on a stretcher and went to a hospital nearby.

Jason had also lived in Orlando, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas. In November 2013, eight of Jason's relatives in the Philippines passed away during Typhoon Haiyan.

Awards and recognition

• 2015 – The Don Award, Sport Australia Hall of Fame
• 2015 – First-ever Greg Norman Medal
• 2015 – Queensland Sports Star of the Year
• 2016 – Greg Norman Medal (again!)

Amateur wins

• 2003 Adina Watches Junior Tournament
• 2004 Queensland Amateur, Australian Boys' Amateur, New Zealand Under 19 Championship, Callaway World Junior Championship (Boys 15–17), ADINA Watches Junior Tournament
• 2005 Victorian Junior Masters, South Australian Junior, Queensland Junior
• 2006 Australian Amateur Stroke Play, Master of the Amateurs, Queensland Amateur

Professional wins

Jason Day has won 19 professional tournaments. Here are some of his most important wins:

PGA Tour wins (13)

• 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship
• 2014 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship (a World Golf Championship event)
• 2015 Farmers Insurance Open
• 2015 RBC Canadian Open
• 2015 PGA Championship (a major championship)
• 2015 The Barclays (a FedEx Cup playoff event)
• 2015 BMW Championship (a FedEx Cup playoff event)
• 2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational
• 2016 WGC-Dell Match Play (a World Golf Championship event)
• 2016 The Players Championship
• 2018 Farmers Insurance Open (second time)
• 2018 Wells Fargo Championship
• 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson (second time)

Nationwide Tour wins (1)

• 2007 Legend Financial Group Classic

Other wins (5)

• 2013 ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf (with Adam Scott)
• 2013 World Cup of Golf Individual Trophy
• 2014 Franklin Templeton Shootout (with Cameron Tringale)
• 2019 MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins
• 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational (with Lydia Ko)

Major championships

Jason Day has won one major championship:

• 2015 PGA Championship

He has also finished second in all four major championships:

• 2011 Masters Tournament (T2)
• 2011 U.S. Open (2nd)
• 2013 U.S. Open (T2)
• 2023 The Open Championship (T2)

The Players Championship

Jason Day won The Players Championship in 2016. This is a very important tournament, sometimes called the "fifth major."

World Golf Championships

Jason Day has won two World Golf Championships:

• 2014 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
• 2016 WGC-Dell Match Play

Team appearances

Jason Day has represented Australia and the PGA Tour in several team events:

Amateur

• Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Queensland): 2004 (winners), 2005

Professional

• Presidents Cup (representing the International team): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2024
• World Cup (representing Australia): 2013 (winners)
• Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing PGA Tour): 2012 (winners), 2013

Images for kids

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  Day at the 2017 Australian Open.