You’ve seen her. If you watch the PGA Tour, you’ve definitely seen her walking the ropes, usually with a flock of kids in tow, watching Jason Day grind out a par. Most golf wives stay in the background, but Ellie Day—formerly Ellie Harvey—has always felt a little different. She isn't some socialite who happened to land a millionaire athlete. She’s a small-town girl from Ohio who met an Australian kid when he had nothing but a bag of clubs and a dream.
Honestly, their story is kinda like a movie script. It’s got the "meeting at a pub" trope, the "disapproving father" subplot, and enough real-world drama to keep anyone interested. But who is she when the cameras aren't on Jason?
How Jason Day and Ellie Harvey Really Met
Let’s get the timeline straight because it’s a bit messy. They didn't fall in love at first sight. Back in 2005, Jason was a 17-year-old amateur prodigy visiting the United States. Ellie was 19, working as a waitress at Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Jason’s coach, Colin Swatton, was the one who actually pointed her out. He told Jason, "I think I found your future wife."
Jason was smitten. He was also a teenager who didn't speak much "American" yet. They didn't start dating immediately. It took another two years and a chance meeting at a party before things actually clicked. Their first official date? Applebee's.
Nothing says "future World No. 1" like a 2-for-$20 deal and some riblets.
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The Dad Factor
Ellie’s father, Tom Harvey, wasn't exactly thrilled at first. Think about it from his perspective. His daughter wanted to date a "jock" who was a pro athlete from halfway across the world. He famously told her that Jason had "three strikes" against him: he was an athlete, a professional, and an Australian.
Clearly, she didn't listen. They got married in October 2009 in a barn in Bellville, Ohio. It was low-key, local, and very much in line with Ellie’s rural roots.
That LeBron James Incident
You can't talk about jason day golfer wife without mentioning the night the internet lost its mind. In December 2015, the couple was sitting courtside at a Cleveland Cavaliers game.
LeBron James, a 250-pound freight train of a human, went diving for a loose ball. He didn't stop. He crashed directly into Ellie, knocking her and her chair backward. It looked terrifying. She ended up leaving the arena on a stretcher with her head immobilized in a brace.
- The Injury: She spent the night in the hospital but luckily escaped with nothing more than a severe case of whiplash and some bruising.
- The Reaction: People on Twitter (now X) actually blamed her for sitting there. Can you imagine? LeBron later apologized, but for a few days, Ellie Day was the most talked-about person in sports for all the wrong reasons.
Life with Five Kids and the "Brighter Days" Foundation
Most people would stop at two or three kids. Not the Days. As of early 2026, they have five children:
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- Dash (the eldest, who became a viral star for running onto the green)
- Lucy
- Arrow
- Ozzie
- Winnie (born in late 2023)
They live a surprisingly normal life in Westerville, Ohio. While other golfers live in Florida or Scottsdale for the weather, Jason stayed in Ohio because that’s where Ellie’s family is. It’s home.
The Brighter Days Foundation
Ellie isn't just a "stay-at-home mom," though with five kids, that’s a full-time job and then some. She’s the President of the Brighter Days Foundation.
They focus on local charities in Central Ohio, helping kids and families who are struggling. It’s not a "vanity project." Ellie is deeply involved in the day-to-day operations. She often says she’s just a "small-town girl" trying to use her platform for something that actually matters.
The Quiet Strength Behind the Comeback
Jason Day’s career hasn't been a straight line up. He struggled with chronic back pain, vertigo, and the devastating loss of his mother, Dening, to cancer in 2022. There were times when he almost quit.
In 2023, when he finally won the AT&T Byron Nelson—ending a five-year victory drought—he was incredibly emotional. He later admitted he hadn't even told Ellie how close he was to walking away from golf. But he didn't have to. She was the one pushing him, making sure he stayed the course when his body felt like it was falling apart.
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What You Should Know About Ellie Day
If you're looking for the TL;DR version of why she matters to the world of golf, here it is:
She isn't a golfer. Ellie didn't play in college and doesn't pretend to be an expert on Jason's swing. She’s his "person."
She’s a survivor. From the LeBron collision to the stress of Jason's health scares (like his collapse at the 2015 U.S. Open), she has handled the public eye with a lot of grace.
She keeps him grounded. Jason is a global superstar, but in Westerville, he's just the guy who needs to help with the dishes and wrangle five kids into the car.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following the Days or want to support their work, keep these things in mind:
- Support the Foundation: The Brighter Days Foundation does incredible work in Ohio. If you want to see the "real" side of the family, that’s where to look.
- Follow the Journey: Ellie used to be very active on social media, but she’s pulled back a bit to focus on the kids. When she does post, it’s usually unfiltered and honest about the chaos of life on the road.
- Watch the Ropes: At major tournaments, look for the "RV life." The Days famously traveled the tour in a luxury motorhome for years so they could stay together as a family.
The story of jason day golfer wife isn't just about being a spouse; it's about the partnership that allowed a kid from Beaudesert, Australia, to become one of the best players in the world while staying rooted in a small town in Ohio.