Masashi Ozaki, Japanese Golf legend dies following cancer battle

The World Golf Hall of Famer Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki died at the age of 78 after a battle with colon cancer, the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) announced on Wednesday.

In a post on social media, the JGTO described Ozaki as an irreplaceable figure in men’s golf.

“He is an indispensable, one-of-a-kind figure when discussing men’s golf, both now and in the future,” the tour said.

Ozaki holds the record for the most victories on the Japan Golf Tour, with 94 wins, making him one of the most successful players in the history of Japanese golf. 

Japanese golfer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011, seven years after Isao Aoki became the first Japanese golfer to receive the honour.

The legend started his sporting career as a baseball player before switching to professional golf, a decision that proved transformative. 

Ozaki won his first Japan PGA Championship at the age of 26, marking the start of a remarkable career.

Ozaki competed in more than 80 PGA Tour events, including the Presidents Cup in 1996. That same year, at the age of 49, he reached fifth place in the world rankings.

Although he never won a title in the United States, Ozaki recorded three top-10 finishes in major championships: tied eighth at the Masters in 1973, tied sixth at the US Open in 1989, and tied tenth at The Open Championship in 1979.

In Japan, he won the Japan Open five times and the Japan PGA Championship six times. His final appearance on the Japan Golf Tour came at the 2002 ANA Open, when he was 55.