Ryan Day had a simple goal at the Memorial Tournament pro-am on May 28. ?The No. 1 thing was don’t kill anybody and don’t hurt anybody,? the Ohio State football coach said. He succeeded. With retired Alabama coach Nick Saban in his foursome, Day’s group shot a 10 under par 62 at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Day played golf growing up in New Hampshire. During the summer, his mother would drop him and his brothers off at Derryfield Country Club, a public course in Manchester. They would play 36 holes, even if he calls himself a ?ham-and-egg? golfer. As OSU coach, he doesn’t have much time for golf. This was his first time playing in a pro-am, let alone in front of a sizable crowd like the one that followed him and Saban, along with pros Justin Thomas for the first nine holes and Corey Conners the second nine. ?It’s very different playing when nobody’s watching,? Day said. ?The fans are great and it was cool to be a part of such a great tradition and be around great people. Justin and Corey couldn’t have been better, and being here with coach Saban was wonderful.? Afterward, Day signed autographs and posed for pictures as spectators congratulated him on Ohio State’s national championship.
Day has been to the Memorial as a spectator. He remembers having one of his daughters on his shoulders watching Tiger Woods play years ago and his son RJ getting autographs from players. Day was reluctant to play in the pro-am. He talked to tournament director Dan Sullivan, who persuaded him into it. ?It’s like the job isn’t stressful enough, I’m saying to myself as I’m driving over here,? Day said with a laugh. ?Like I need this stress in my life. But even over the last shot, I’m thinking to myself, ‘I’ve made it this far. I’m not going to shank it and hit somebody, right?’ so I was holding my breath.? That last approach on No. 9 was a nice one and gave him a birdie putt, which he pulled just left.
Day said he and Saban talked throughout the round about both golf and football. ?He’s been a great supporter of the coaches as he’s transitioned over to the media side and also an ambassador for the game,? Day said. Thomas played for Alabama and has gotten to know Saban over the years. Thomas and Day had never met.
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and former Alabama coach Nick Saban sign autographs after playing in the Memorial pro-am at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin on May 28. ?I actually joked with coach Saban coming up 18,? Thomas said. ?I was like, ‘Man, I hate to say this, but coach Day’s a really, really good dude, and I hate that I’m going to maybe have to root for Ohio State a little bit because of how nice of a guy he was.’ ? As for Day’s golf game, Thomas was charitable.
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day hits onto the 14th green at the Memorial pro-am at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin on May 28. ?He said, ‘I’ve never done one of these. I’m going to be nervous,’ ? Thomas said. ?But he hit a lot of really good shots. He definitely struck me as somebody that if he gave it some time and some practice really could be a solid player.?
Having succeeded in not hitting anyone in the gallery, Day was pleased to have played. ?This is a wonderful course, a difficult course,? he said, ?but the No. 1 thing here is raising money to help people and be a part of such a great organization.?Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Memorial Tournament: OSU football’s Ryan Day, Nick Saban play together
