Jason Day’s 2025 season is off to a solid start. After a T40 finish at The Sentry, he came back strong at The American Express, finishing tied for 3rd with a total score of -22 and a 3-under-par final round. It was indeed a close call. He had to settle for a paycheck of $519,200 instead of $1.5 million but it didn’t matter much to him. His focus was on something much more important: his beautiful family.

When asked how it felt to have them supporting him, his response was heartfelt, but it took a bit of a detour. “It’s definitely nice to have ’em on the road,” he said. “We’re very fortunate to be able to travel in a bus together, very fortunate to be able to home school so that we can have ’em out there. So my wife is, you know, hats off to my wife, because she does all that work.”

And, of course, with all that love and attachment in his heart, it’s got to be tough to be away from his family for too long, and he didn’t shy away from admitting it. “It can get lonely out here, and that’s why I think if they were at home I probably wouldn’t play too long, you know, just because I wouldn’t be able to see my kids grow up, and then I just don’t like being on the road by myself, so I’m very fortunate to be able to have them on the road with me.”

Day has always been about family. He has even previously missed some big tournaments for them, like the 2012 Open Championship when his first son, Dash, was born. In 2023, when his fifth child was on the way, just a week before the due date, Day was scheduled to play in the Tour Championship. He didn’t miss the tournament, but he had other hopes; “I’m just hoping that Ellie holds out another week or two weeks and I can be there and spend some time with my family. I think if this was my first [child], I’d be a little bit more nervous about it. She said, ‘You’re not likely to make it back in time if I do go into labor. We’re having a home birth. She said I may as well just play the tournament and try to win.”

And when it comes to Ellie, Day is clearly head over heels for her, and why not, she has been a constant partner through it all. “The amount of sacrifices she’s made for me and my career, I just can’t thank her enough,” Day has said before. “She never gave up on me trying to get back to the winner’s circle again. She just always was pushing me to try and get better.” 

Day and Ellie tied the knot in October 2009, and they’ve since built a beautiful family together with five children – Dash, Lucy, Arrow, Ozzie, and little Winnie. Their journey together has been beautiful so far, right from their first meeting. 

Jason Day knew she was the one right from the start

 Ellie was working as a waitress in her hometown of Ohio when they first met. Jason shared with Qantas Magazine in 2016, “Our first date was at a restaurant called Applebee’s in Columbus, Ohio. Afterward, all I wanted to do was play golf and see Ellie. I knew I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life,” At the time, Jason was just 17, and they didn’t start dating until over a year later.

Ellie is also the president of the Brighter Days Foundation, which helps meet the needs of children in Central Ohio. She is Day’s constant support, both on and off the course. She even walks with him from hole to hole during tournaments so he can always spot her in the crowd.

“I like to see what’s going on, but it’s become more difficult because the [galleries] are bigger and it’s frustrating because I can’t see,” Ellie said in a 2015 interview with the Mansfield News Journal. “It’s good for him because he’s always scanning the crowd for me. Obviously, he could do well without me, but it’s such a routine now.”

Ellie was right there with Jason when he won his first major, the 2015 PGA Championship, which helped him reach No. 1 in the world. It was a big moment for the family. As soon as Day sunk the winning putt, he got all emotional and hugged Ellie and Dash.

For Day, it’s never just about the golf—it’s about making memories with those he loves most. So when Jason made The American Express all about his family, it totally made sense.