Masashi Ozaki, widely considered Japan’s greatest golfer before the arrival of Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama, has died from cancer. He was 78.
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Often referred to as “Jumbo” due to his length off the tee, Ozaki originally played professional baseball in his late teens. However, he eventually transitioned to golf, turning professional at 23 years old and winning the Japan PGA Championship the next season.
That would prove to be an auspicious beginning for a prosperous career, with Ozaki winning a record 94 times on the Japan Golf Tour. He finished on top of the tour’s money list 12 times, including at 51 years old. Ozaki never won in the United States, although he competed in 19 Masters (highlighted by a T-8 in 1973) and 13 US Opens (his best finish a T-6 in 1989). He represented the International team at the 1996 Presidents Cup.
Ozaki reached as high as No.5 on the Official World Golf Ranking. He finished his career with 114 wins—all in Japan aside from a New Zealand PGA Championship in the ‘70s—and in 2011 was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame. He and Isao Aoki are the only men of Japanese descent currently in the Hall of Fame.
“I am very happy, very honoured and appreciate everyone who has supported me since I turned pro in 1970,” Ozaki said when he was elected to the Hall of Fame. “My only regret is not playing more outside of Japan, but I dedicated my life to Japanese golf and am extremely grateful the voters thought I was worthy of this honour.”
AloJapan.com