Jason Day is an Australian professional golfer known for his success on the PGA Tour. He achieved the prestigious title of world number one in the World Golf Ranking in September 2015. He made his mark in the golfing world when he broke into the top ten rankings in June 2011, reaching the ninth spot after an impressive runner-up finish at the U.S. Open. In February 2014, he secured his first World Golf Championships (WGC) title by winning the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, a feat he would accomplish again in 2016, joining the exclusive company of Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy as multiple winners of the WGC Match Play. His crowning achievement came in 2015 when he won his first major tournament, the PGA Championship, with a remarkable 20 strokes under par. This victory propelled him to the third spot in the world rankings, solidifying his status as one of the game's top players. Day's exceptional performance and consistent presence in major tournaments have made him a highly regarded figure in the world of golf.
Jason Day, the Australian professional golfer, made a significant impact in the golfing world by winning the 2015 PGA Championship and reaching the number one spot in the World Golf Ranking in September 2015. He has achieved multiple victories, including two wins at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2014 and 2016, joining the exclusive club of Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy as multiple winners of the tournament. Day's exceptional performance at the 2015 PGA Championship, where he finished 20 strokes under par, elevated him to the third position in the world rankings.
Born on 12 November 1987 in Beaudesert, Queensland, Australia, Jason Day is an Australian professional golfer of mixed ethnic background. With Irish Australian heritage from his father, Irvin Day, and a Filipino mother named Dening, who migrated to Australia in the early 1980s, Jason grew up alongside his two siblings, Yanna and Kim. Celebrating his 35th birthday in 2022, he attended Kooralbyn International School, which boasted a golf course, and later enrolled in Hills International College, where he had access to a golf academy.
During his amateur career, Jason Day's talent in golf was recognized through several awards and victories. He was twice awarded the Australian Junior Order of Merit, won the Australian Boys' Amateur in 2004, and finished seventh as the leading amateur at the Queensland Open. In the United States, he won the Boys 15-17 division at the 2004 Callaway World Junior Championship and was runner-up at the 2005 Porter Cup. Day was also part of the Golf Australia National Squad during his amateur days. In 2005, he participated in his first professional event, the Greater Building Society QLD PGA Championship, where he lost in a playoff to Scott Gardiner on the fourth extra hole.
In July 2006, Jason Day turned professional after winning the Green Jacket at the NEC Master of the Amateurs and signed with TaylorMade and Adidas. He immediately started playing PGA Tour events through sponsors' exemptions, making the cut in five of his first six PGA Tour events with a best finish of eleventh at the Reno-Tahoe Open, earning official winnings of over $160,000. He then participated in PGA Tour qualifying, tied for first in his section of the second round, and advanced to the Q-School finals. However, in the six-round finals, he played poorly and failed to earn his 2007 PGA Tour card, but earned conditional status on the Nationwide Tour for 2007. Day won his first Nationwide Tour event in July 2007 at the Legend Financial Group Classic, becoming the youngest man to win on any of the PGA Tour's three tours. This win helped him earn his PGA Tour card for 2008, where he had a mediocre season but retained his card for 2009 after finishing second at the Puerto Rico Open. In May 2010, Day won the HP Byron Nelson Championship, becoming the youngest Australian to win a PGA Tour event. He finished the 2010 season ranked 21st on the PGA Tour money list, with his first top-10 finish in a major at the PGA Championship.
In 2011, Jason Day had his best performance in a major championship at the Master's Tournament, where he tied for second with Adam Scott and set the Masters record for the lowest score by a first-time participant. He achieved consecutive second-place finishes in majors at the U.S. Open, where he finished alone in second behind Rory McIlroy. Despite not winning a tournament in 2011, Day ended the season ranked 9th on the PGA Tour money list and moved into the Official World Golf Ranking top 10 for the first time in his career at ninth. He continued to perform well in majors, finishing in third place at the 2013 Masters and tying for second at the 2013 U.S. Open. In February 2014, he won his first World Golf Championship event, the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, lifting him to fourth in the world rankings.
In 2015, Australian golfer Jason Day won his third PGA Tour event and seventh title as a pro, taking the Farmers Insurance Open after a four-way playoff. He also achieved his best finish at the Open Championship, tying for fourth, and won the RBC Canadian Open, his second tour victory of the season. But it was at the 2015 PGA Championship hosted at the Whistling Straits that Day produced an exceptional performance, setting a new record by becoming the first player in history to finish at 20-under-par in a major. He continued his hot streak with wins in The Barclays and the BMW Championship, gaining the world number one ranking for the first time in September 2015, although he finished tied for tenth at the Tour Championship. In early 2016, Jason Day won his eighth and ninth PGA Tour titles at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC-Dell Match Play, respectively, taking him to the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. He then secured his tenth PGA Tour win with a wire-to-wire victory at the 2016 Players Championship, earning praise from fellow golfers for his impressive form. However, Day decided not to participate in the 2016 Olympics due to concerns over the Zika virus. As of July 2016, he had earned over $33 million in prize money on the PGA Tour.
In January 2017, Nike announced that Day was joining Nike Golf in a multi-year sponsorship deal worth a reported $10m per year. He would wear Nike clothes, shoes, and gloves, but his sponsorship contract with RBC was not renewed. In September 2017, after a winless season, Day split from his caddie of 11 years, Colin Swatton, but confirmed that Swatton would remain as his swing coach. Day won the Farmers Insurance Open in January, defeating Norén and Palmer in a six-hole sudden-death playoff. He won with a birdie on the sixth extra hole, which took place on Monday due to a suspension of play. The victory was Day's 11th PGA Tour win and his first in over eighteen months. In May, he won the Wells Fargo Championship. In 2019, Day continued to struggle with chronic back pain and resorted to balloon therapy to help alleviate the pressure on his back. He also hired Tiger Woods' former caddie, Steve Williams, who took charge of their player-caddie relationship. Day spoke highly of Williams' discipline and his ability to push him to work harder. However, after missing the cut at The Northern Trust, Day and Williams parted ways due to a 'disconnect between old school and new school'. Later that year, Day won The Challenge: Japan Skins, but withdrew from the Presidents Cup due to his back injury.
Jason Day is a committed family man, having tied the knot with his wife, Ellie Harvey in 2009. Ellie is an American woman, and the couple is blessed with four children - Dash, Lucy, and Arrow. The family currently resides in Westerville, Ohio, where they enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life together.
Previously, Jason had lived in both Orlando, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas, due to his professional golfing career. However, he seems to have found a stable home in Ohio with his wife and children. The couple shares a strong and loving relationship, evident through their bond and the joy they derive from their family life.
Jason Day is a highly successful professional golfer, with the majority of his wealth coming from his lucrative golfing career. As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $55 million, with an annual income of over $4 million. Day has earned over $33 million in prize money from his PGA Tour career alone, as of July 2016.
In addition to his prize money, Day earns a significant income from lucrative endorsement deals. He has been endorsed by several top brands, including TaylorMade and Adidas since 2006, and signed a $10 million per year deal with Nike in 2017. This resulted in the end of his deal with RBC. Day also has an endorsement deal with Lexus, which adds to his impressive earnings. In 2021, his total earnings were estimated to be around $17 million, with $13 million coming from brand endorsements and the remaining from prize money. He also owns two properties, including a $2 million Queensland property and a $9 million property in Sydney, Australia. He is living a lavish lifestyle as of now.
Jason Day is a tall and well-built man, standing at an impressive height of 6 feet or 1.83 meters. With a weight of 195 pounds or 88.5 kilograms, he has a well-proportioned body that complements his height. Despite not having an exceptional physique, his average body build is maintained through his active lifestyle as a professional golfer.
Additionally, Jason Day has been blessed with dark brown eyes that complement his striking features. His black hair adds to his attractive appearance, making him a handsome man overall. As a professional athlete, he takes good care of his body, which is evident through his healthy physique and active lifestyle.
In what proved to be a standout season for Jason Day, 2015 marked the pinnacle of his career. During this remarkable year, he achieved the coveted World No.1 ranking in golf, securing his place as the top-ranked player in the sport. Not only did he attain this prestigious status, but he also clinched his first-ever Major victory at the USPGA Championship, a significant milestone for any professional golfer. In addition to his Major triumph, Day showcased his exceptional skills and consistency by capturing four other PGA Tour titles throughout the season, solidifying his status as one of the premier players in the world of golf.
After demonstrating his prowess in amateur competitions, Jason Day decided to turn professional in 2006. Prior to making this significant career move, he showcased his exceptional skills by claiming victory in notable tournaments such as the Australian Amateur Stroke Play, Master of the Amateurs, and Queensland Amateur. These victories not only solidified his reputation as a talented golfer but also provided him with the confidence and momentum to take the leap into the professional ranks. By making the transition to the professional circuit, Day embarked on a new chapter in his golfing journey, paving the way for the successes and accomplishments that would follow in his career.
At the age of 12, Jason Day's father introduced him to the game of golf, igniting a lifelong passion for the sport. However, their time together was cut short when Jason's father tragically succumbed to stomach cancer. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Jason's dedication to golf continued to grow, and he channeled his grief into becoming a successful professional golfer, carrying his father's memory with him every step of the way.
Under the guidance of his coach and former caddie Colin Swatton, Jason Day made a pivotal decision to enroll in a golf college in Australia. It was during this time that Day came across a book about Tiger Woods, which served as a profound source of inspiration for him. He found motivation in comparing his own achievements to those of Woods at a similar age, using it as a benchmark to gauge his progress and fuel his determination to reach greater heights in his golfing career. This encounter with Woods' story became a significant turning point for Day, propelling him forward on his path to success in the world of professional golf.
During his professional golf career, Jason Day has achieved remarkable success, spending a total of 51 weeks as the top-ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking. This significant accomplishment demonstrates his consistent excellence and dominance in the sport. Day's impressive performance and consistent high-level play allowed him to establish himself as one of the world's premier golfers and earn recognition as one of the best players on the global stage. His extended tenure at the pinnacle of the world rankings highlights his exceptional skill, talent, and ability to compete at the highest level of professional golf.