Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, a Hall of Famer widely regarded as Japan’s greatest male golfer, died this week at age 78 after a battle with colon cancer, the Japan Golf Tour Organization announced. According to CBC the tour said Ozaki died in his home country and called him “an indispensable, one-of-a-kind figure in discussing men’s golf, both now and in the future.”
Ozaki was revered in Japan for his power, flair, and longevity, piling up 94 victories on the Japan Golf Tour over 29 years, the most in the circuit’s history. He finished his JGTO winning run with the 2002 ANA Open at age 55 and totaled 113 wins worldwide, the highest tally for any Japanese player.
He topped the Japan money list a record 12 times, further cementing his status as the dominant homegrown star of his era.
Internationally, Ozaki reached No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking in 1996, a rare peak for a player who competed mostly in his homeland. He played in 49 editions of major championships, with his best result a tie for sixth at the 1989 U.S. Open at Oak Hill Country Club. He also recorded top-10 finishes at the Masters (T8, 1973) and The Open (T10, 1979).
Tributes poured in from across the golf world. According to The Mirror, Yutaka Morohoshi, former chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Organization and a longtime friend, said he was “speechless” at the news. Moroshi called Ozaki “a truly remarkable individual” whose legacy would endure. The Mirror also cited fans who shared memories on social media, calling him “the best golfer Japan has produced” and remembering watching “Jumbo” and his brothers at the Masters and on Japanese television.
The PGA Tour and Japan Golf Tour both issued statements praising Ozaki’s go‑for‑broke style and charisma, crediting him with helping renew interest in the game in Japan. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011, he leaves behind not only a record book filled with his name, but a generation of Japanese players who grew up trying to follow in his oversized footsteps.
More Golf: Scottie Scheffler Matches Tiger Woods Record With Latest PGA Tour Award
AloJapan.com