The Japan Golf Tour introduced that “Jumbo” Shoji Ozaki, who received 113 video games all over the world, essentially the most by a Japanese participant, died on Wednesday in his dwelling nation after a battle with colon most cancers. He was 78 years outdated.
Ozaki is revered in Japan and is an enormous hitter with a terrific sense of fashion, with 94 wins in 29 years on the Japan Golf Tour, the final of which got here on the age of 55 on the ANA Open.
Ozaki rose to fifth place on the earth rankings in 1996 on the age of 49. Ozaki had by no means received exterior Japan, except the New Zealand PGA Championship, and was usually ignored. He was inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame in 2011.
“He’s a singular and important determine within the story of males’s golf now and sooner or later,” the tour stated in a social media submit.
Ozaki performed in 49 main tournaments, his greatest outcome being the 1989 U.S. Open at Oak Hill, the place he completed three strokes behind Curtis Unusual. He final competed within the Masters in 2000, on the age of 53, when he tied for twenty eighth place, his nineteenth and final.
Isao Aoki is the primary Japanese participant to be inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame, and Hideki Matsuyama received his first main championship on the 2021 Masters. Each have been impressed indirectly by Ozaki, a pioneer in a rustic now obsessive about golf.
Ozaki has received the Japan Open 5 instances and the Japan Skilled Golf Championship six instances. He topped the Japan Golf Tour cash rankings a file 12 instances, together with 5 years in a row from 1994 to 1998. He received his final cash title in 2002 on the age of 55.
When he was inducted into the Corridor of Fame, Ozaki stated his solely remorse was not taking part in extra exterior of Japan.
“However I’ve devoted my life to Japanese golf, and I’m very grateful that the voters thought I deserved this honor,” he stated upon his election. He acquired 50% of the votes within the worldwide vote.
Ozaki was thought-about the Arnold Palmer of Japanese golf for his highly effective swing, charisma, and sense of fashion, usually carrying silk shirts and dishevelled pants. And his abilities weren’t restricted to golf. In response to the Corridor of Fame, he performed the guitar and had three songs rank on the Japanese pop charts.
His old flame was baseball, the place he performed professionally as a pitcher for 3 years earlier than switching to golf. When Ryo Ishikawa, who received his first Japan Golf Tour title on the age of 15, talked about Ozaki’s affect, it was clear. Ishikawa says he visits Ozaki about 10 instances a 12 months to get recommendation.
“Jumbo was a former baseball participant, so he was at all times making an attempt to show me the connection between pitching and hitting and golf,” Ishikawa stated in a 2010 Related Press interview. “The Jumbos wished me to hit the ball far.”
When Ozaki performed in main leagues abroad, he traveled along with his entourage, usually renting a home and bringing a sushi chef with him to make his buddies really feel at dwelling.
He has two youthful brothers, Naomichi (Joe) and Takeo (Jet), who additionally performed on tour.
Ozaki competed within the 1996 Presidents Cup, teaming with Vijay Singh to defeat the American duo of Fred {Couples} and Davis Love III. He certified for the 1998 crew, however deserted the journey to Australia and was changed by his youthful brother Joe.
