Japanese golf icon Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki has died at age 78. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki passed away on Tuesday at the age of 78 due to colorectal cancer. Ozaki holds a record 94 victories on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), including five Japan Open titles and six Japan PGA Championships. In 2011, he was honored with induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. His only international win came at the 1972 New Zealand PGA Championship.
Most Successful Golfer in JGTO History
Ozaki remains the most dominant figure in Japanese golf history. His 94 JGTO wins are 43 more than second-place Isao Aoki, and he claimed the tour’s Order of Merit a record twelve times. His domestic success translated into 200 weeks ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Though his international wins were limited, he posted top-10 finishes at the 1973 Masters, the 1989 U.S. Open, and the 1979 Open Championship, showcasing his global competitiveness.
A Unique Life On and Off the Course
Nicknamed ‘Jumbo’ for his 1.81m height and 90kg frame, Ozaki was known for his powerful drives and all-or-nothing playing style, captivating fans across Japan. Remarkably, he began his athletic career in baseball, winning a national high school championship before playing professionally for three years. He switched to golf at age 23 and won his first JGTO event in 1973 at age 26. His final tour victory came 29 years later, at age 55.
Ozaki’s fame extended beyond golf. In the late 1980s, he launched a music career, releasing three singles that charted in Japan, further cementing his status as a national icon.