Golf Mourns Passing of Japanese Great ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki

Tokyo, Japan: Tributes have been paid to Japan’s Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki, one of the region’s most influential and colourful golfing characters of the past half-century. The eldest of three professional golfing brothers, Ozaki has passed away at the age of 78.

During a brilliant top-level career spanning 30 years, Ozaki won more than 100 titles including 94 on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO). He topped the circuit’s Order of Merit on no fewer than 12 occasions.

He has frequently been credited with broadening the base of golf in Japan and making a significant contribution to the development of golf as a national sport.

A statement on the JGTO website said Ozaki’s son, Tomoharu, had announced his father had passed away after being diagnosed with colon cancer about a year ago.

JGTO chairman Yutaka Morohoshi said: “The golf world has lost a truly great man. He long steered the men’s professional golf world and overwhelmed others with his unparalleled strength.”

During his golfing pomp, Ozaki was in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for nearly 200 weeks, reaching a high of fifth in 1996 when aged 49.

He was a member of the International Team at the second edition of the Presidents Cup in 1996 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

Of Ozaki, the World Golf of Fame website said: “Ozaki is often thought to be to Japanese golf what Arnold Palmer is to American golf. His success has spawned an entire generation of Japanese golf professionals, both male and female.”

Between 1972 and 2000, Ozaki flew the flag for Japan in 49 Majors – 19 times at the Masters Tournament with a best of tied eighth in 1973; 13 times at the US Open with a best of joint sixth in 1989; 10 times at The Open Championship with three top-14 finishes; and seven times as the PGA Championship, making the cut on three occasions.

Japan Golf Association Chairman Masashige Ikeya said: “I offer my deepest condolences on the sudden passing of Masashi Ozaki.

“Mr Ozaki’s unparalleled driving distance and delicate short game transcended conventional wisdom and opened up new horizons for golf in Japan. His cheerful personality, beloved by all, greatly broadened the base of golf in Japan and made a significant contribution to the development of golf as a national sport.

“His achievements, including his 113 career wins and the skills and passion for golf he cultivated during his professional career, which he passed on to golfers who are expected to carry the future of Japanese golf, are an asset to the Japanese golf world. I would like to express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to Mr Ozaki, who loved golf throughout his life and poured his immense passion into the development of Japanese golf.

“The name ‘Jumbo Ozaki’ will forever be etched in the hearts of golfers not only in Japan but around the world.”

The JGA said Ozaki had been involved in training the next generation of golfers. Among those who have blossomed under Ozaki’s guidance in recent years are Hideki Hara, the Japan Women’s Open champion in 2020 and 2023, two-time US Women’s Open winner Yuka Saso, Mao Saigo, winner of the Chevron Championship, and Akari Sakuma, number one in the JLPGA Tour Mercedes Rankings in 2025.

Ozaki was also a golf course architect. Among his portfolio were courses at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China and Malaysia’s Templer Park Country Club.

In a social media posting, Templer Park said: “It is with deep sadness to know of the passing of our esteemed golf course designer, Jumbo Ozaki. Not only was Mr Ozaki a towering figure in the world of golf, but also a visionary whose design and philosophy shaped the very character of our course. His legacy lives on in every fairway and green, where his artistry and respect for the game continue to inspire us.

“Mr Ozaki brought the same passion and excellence to course design as he did to his playing career. We are privileged to have his imprint on our club, a lasting reminder of his genius and love for the sport.”