Japanese golf icon Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki has passed away at the age of 78. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki died on Tuesday at the age of 78 after battling colon cancer. Ozaki holds the record for the most wins on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) with 94 victories, including five Japan Open titles and six Japan PGA Championships. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. His only international win came at the 1972 New Zealand PGA Championship.
Most Successful Golfer in JGTO History
Ozaki’s dominance in Japanese golf is unmatched. With 94 tournament wins, he leads by 43 over second-place Isao Aoki. He also won the JGTO Order of Merit a record 12 times. His success helped elevate the sport in Japan, and he spent a total of 200 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. While his international victories were limited, he had notable top-10 finishes at the 1973 Masters, 1989 U.S. Open, and 1979 Open Championship.
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, which made him a fan favorite in Japan. His path to golf was unconventional—originally a promising baseball player, he won a national high school championship and played professionally for three years before switching to golf at age 23. He claimed his first JGTO title in 1973 at age 26 and continued winning until age 55.
Ozaki also ventured into music in the late 1980s, releasing three singles that all charted in Japan, further cementing his status as a cultural icon.