Jumbo Ozaki
Name:
Masashi "Jumbo" OzakiCountry:
JapanBorn:
Jan 24, 1947 in Kaifu, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golfer, course designer.Turned Pro:
1970Presidents Cup player (1996). Total professional wins (113), including Japan Golf Tour (94). Japan Tour leading money winner (1973, '74, '77, '88, '89, '90, '92, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011).
Jumbo Ozaki has been involved with several design projects, which include, but are not limited to: Mission Hills Shenzhen - Ozaki course (China, 1998, with Schmidt-Curley); Templer Park (Thai, 1991, with Kentaro Saro).
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki is the most successful player of all time on the Japan Golf Tour. He led the tour's money list a record 12 times and won 94 tournaments, over 40 more than the second highest player.
From 1965 to 1967 Ozaki was a professional baseball pitcher/outfielder with the Nishitetsu Lions. He transitioned to professional golf aged 23, and won the Japan PGA Championship the following year. During his time as a prolific winner on the Japan Tour, he enjoyed a great rivalry with two other Japanese golfing legends, Isao Aoki and Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima. Ozaki's brothers Tateo "Jet" Ozaki and Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki were also regulars on the tour. Ozaki played 96 tournaments on the PGA Tour between 1972 and 2000, though never achieved a finish in the top 3 of any PGA Tour event or major championship. His only win outside Japan came in the 1972 New Zealand PGA Championship.
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Carlos Franco (Para) was second with 69.63; Brian Watts (Can/USA) was third with 69.72.
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his twelfth (and fifth straight) Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1998 season earnings of Yn179,627,400. Brian Watts (Can/USA) was second with Yn132,014,990; Hidemichi Tanaka (Jpn) was third with Yn103,941,437. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
Philip Morris
Played as the Philip Morris Championship (Oct 29-Nov 1; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Mitsuo Harada (Jpn) and Carlos Franco (Para) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [ABC GC, Kato, Hyogo, Japan].
Japan
Bridgestone
Played as the Bridgestone Open (Oct 23-26; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) and Tateo "Jet" Ozaki (Jpn) (Jumbo's younger brother) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Sodegaura course, Sodegaura CC, Chiba, Jpn].
Japan
x
Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (May 1-4; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). Second-placed Brian Watts (Can/USA) finished 2 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who won this event for the third straight time and fifth time in total. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) was second with 69.39; Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) was third with 69.77.
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his eleventh (and fourth straight) Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1997 season earnings of Yn170,847,633. Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) was second with Yn152,774,420; Brian Watts (Can/USA) was third with Yn111,153,198. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
PGA of Japan
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (May 9-12; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) finished 8 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded his sixth and final win in this event. [Yoshii course, Sanyo GC, Hirayama, Akaiwa, Okayama].
Japan
Hitachi
Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Nov 28-Dec 1; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who claimed the last of his seven wins in this event. [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Brian Watts (Can/USA) was second with 69.81; Yoshinori Kaneko (Jpn) was third with 70.13.
Japan
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Nov 14-17; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) and Tom Watson (USA) finished 3 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who won this event for the third straight year. [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his tenth (and third straight) Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1996 season earnings of Yn209,646,746. Yoshinori Kaneko (Jpn) was second with Yn117,697,448; Brian Watts (Can/USA) was third with Yn89,346,882. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
x
Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (April 25-28; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). Second-placed Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].
Japan
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Nov 16-19; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Brandt Jobe (USA), Peter Senior (Aus) and Robert Gamez (USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].
Japan
x
Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (April 27-30; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). Second-placed Nobuo Serizawa (Jpn) finished 5 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded a tournament record low score of 260 and record 20-under par. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].
Japan
Hitachi
Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Nov 30-Dec 3; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Shigenori Mori (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his ninth (and second straight) Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1995 season earnings of Yn192,319,800. Satoshi Higashi (Jpn) was second with Yn136,854,183; Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) was third with Yn103,209,036. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Peter Senior (Au) was second with 70.04; Brandt Jobe (USA) was third with 70.24.
Japan
Sumitomo
Played as the Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 10-13; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Bob Estes (USA) finished 5 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].
Japan
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Nov 17-20; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Tom Watson (USA) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Sept 29-Oct 2; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed David Ishii (USA) and Hideki Kase (Jpn) finished 13 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who won the last of his five Japan Open titles. [Yokkaichi CC, Yokkaichi, Mie, Jpn].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) was second with 70.58; Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) was third with 70.64.
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his eighth Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1994 season earnings of Yn215,468,000. Brian Watts (Can/USA) was second with Yn139,052,710; Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) was third with Yn115,771,280. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) was second with 70.88; Tze-chung "T.C." Chen (Taiw) was third with 71.14.
Japan
PGA of Japan
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (May 13-16; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Tsuyoshi Yoneyama (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded the fifth of his six wins in this event. [Sports Shinkou CC, Hyogo, Jpn].
Japan
x
Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 30-May 3; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). Second-placed Peter Senior (Aus) and Brent Franklin (Can) finished 4 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his seventh Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1992 season earnings of Yn186,816,466. Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) was second with Yn130,880,179; Tze-Ming Chen (Taiw) was third with Yn122,317,851. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) was second with 71.29; Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) was third with 71.33.
Japan
Visa
Played as the VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 12-15; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger), Tsukasa Watanabe (Jpn) and Masahiro Kuramoto (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Oct 8-11; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Brent Franklin (Can) and Masahiro Kuramoto (Jpn) finished 5 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Ryugasaki CC, Ryugasaki, Ibaraki, Jpn].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Roger Mackay (Aus) was second with 70.56; Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) was third with 70.67.
Japan
PGA of Japan
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (Aug 15-18; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Tsukasa Watanabe (Jpn) finished 6 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Prestige CC, Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture, Jpn].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his sixth (and third straight) Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1990 season earnings of Yn129,060,500. Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) was second with Yn96,979,100; Ryoken Kawagishi (Jpn) third with Yn87,350,200. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Graham Marsh (Aus) was second with 71.00; Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) was third with 71.15.
Japan
PGA of Japan
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (Aug 3-6; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Hideki Kase (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded the third of his six wins in this event. [Karasuyamajo CC, Tochigi, Jpn].
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Oct 5-8; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Brian Jones finished 1 shot behind defending champion Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Jpn].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Graham Marsh (Aus) was second with 71.06; Koichi Suzuki (Jpn) was third with 71.59.
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his fifth (and second straight) Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1989 season earnings of Yn108,715,733. Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) was second with Yn79,690,766; Brian Jones (Aus) was third with Yn70,061,826. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Oct 6-9; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) and defending champion Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Tokyo GC, Sayama, Saitama, Jpn].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. David Ishii (USA) was second with 71.05; Ian-Baker Finch (Aus) was third with 71.33.
Japan
Bridgestone
Played as the Bridgestone Open (Oct 20-23; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Sodegaura course, Sodegaura CC, Chiba, Jpn].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his fourth Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1988 season earnings of Yn125,162,540. Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) was second with Yn83,782,697; David Ishii (USA) was third with Yn71,372,048. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. David Ishii (USA) was second with 70.70; Graham Marsh (Aus) was third with 71.04.
Japan
x
Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 30-May 3; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). Second-placed Ian Baker-Finch (Aus), Masahiro Kuramoto (Jpn), Isao Aoki (Jpn) and Yoshitaka Yamamoto (Jpn) finished 6 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].
Japan
x
Played as the Golf Nippon Series (Dec 3-7; Japanese major ch'ship and season-ending event). Won by Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Co-hosted by Yomiuri CC, Nishinomiya, Hyogo and Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].
Japan
Pepsi / Wilson
Played as the Pepsi-Wilson Tournament (May 18-21). Won by defending champion Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded his 20th Japan Tour win. [Mannennike West course, Ube 72 CC, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan].
Japan
Pepsi / Wilson
Played as the Pepsi-Wilson Tournament (May 26-29). Won by Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [West course, Yokohama CC, Kanagawa, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his third Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1977 season earnings of Yn35,932,608 from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
x
Played as the Golf Nippon Series (Nov 30-Dec 4; Japanese major ch'ship and season-ending event). Won by Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Co-hosted by Yomiuri CC, Nishinomiya, Hyogo and Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Sept 26-29; Japanese major ch'ship). Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded his first of five wins in the Japan Open, but would wait 14 years before claiming his second win in the event. [East course, Central GC, Namegata, Ibaraki].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won his second Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1974 season earnings of Yn41,846,908 from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
PGA of Japan
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (Aug 15-18; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed and defending champion Aoki (Jpn) finished 4 shots behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Omotezao Intl/Kokusai GC, Shibata, Miyagi, Jpn].
Japan
x
Played as the Golf Nippon Series (Nov 14-17; Japanese major ch'ship). Won by Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). [Co-hosted by Yomiuri CC, Nishinomiya, Hyogo and Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].
Japan
x
Played as the Taiheiyo Club Pacific Masters (Oct 11-14; Japan Tr event). Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) beat Bert Yancey (USA) in a three-hole aggregate score playoff, to record his fifth Japan Tour win in 1973. [Sobu course, Sobu CC, Inzai, Chiba, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won the inaugural Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1973 season earnings of Yn43,814,000 from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
x
Played as the Golf Nippon Series (Nov 15-19; Japanese major ch'ship). Defending champion Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) won in a playoff. [Co-hosted by Yomiuri CC, Nishinomiya, Hyogo and Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand PGA Championship (Jan 6-9). Second-placed Bob Charles (NZ) and Takashi Murakami (Jpn) finished 7 shots behind 24-year-old Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn). This was the legendary Japanese player's only significant tournament win outside of his native Japan. [Mount Maunganui GC, Tauranga, NZ].
Japan
PGA of Japan
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (Sept 16-19; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Hideki Sugimoto (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded the first of his six wins in this event. [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].
Japan
x
Played as the Golf Nippon Series (Nov 17-21; Japanese major ch'ship). Won by Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) by 1 shot. [Co-hosted by Yomiuri CC, Nishinomiya, Hyogo and Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].
Japan
x
Played as the inaugural United States-Japan Golf Match (Nov 5-7; Japan Tr event; individual low score winner). Bert Yancey (USA) finished in third place behind Billy Casper (USA) and Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), who tied for first place. [Perfect Liberty CC, Osaka, Japan].
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