Masashi Ozaki
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Masashi Ozaki (尾崎将司 Ozaki Masashi?, born (尾崎正司) January 24, 1947) is a Japanese golfer. Ozaki is often known as Jumbo Ozaki (ジャンボ尾崎 Janbo Ozaki) on account of his height and length off the tee. He has featured in the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Ozaki was born in Kaifu District, Tokushima. He the most successful player of all time on the Japan Golf Tour, having led the money list a record 12 times and won 94 tournaments, more than forty more than the second highest tally. He built "AON Age" with his rivals Isao Aoki and Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima.
Ozaki led the Japan Golf Tour in earnings in 1973, 1974, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Ozaki finished 8th at The Masters in 1973 and finished 6th at the U.S. Open in 1989. He competed at The Masters 18 times. He played occasionally on the PGA Tour from 1972 to 2000 (96 tournaments, never more than seven in one year). His best finish was a T-4 at the 1993 Memorial Tournament.
Ozaki was a professional baseball pitcher from 1965 to 1967, but he turned to professional golf at the age of 23 and won the Japan Pro Golf Championship the following year.
Ozaki's brothers Tateo "Jet" and Naomichi "Joe" are also professional golfers. Now in his late fifties, he still plays regularly on the Japan Golf Tour.
Ozaki played on the winning International Team in the 1996 Presidents Cup.
[edit] Japan Golf Tour wins
- 1973-1984 27 wins
- 1986 (4) Fujisankei Classic, Nikkei Cup, Maruman Open, Jun Classic
- 1987 (3) The Crowns, Fujisankei Classic, Jun Classic
- 1988 (6) Dunlop Open, Nikkei Cup, Maruman Open, Japan Open Golf Championship, Golf Digest Tournament, Bridgestone Open
- 1989 (7) Fujisankei Classic, PGA Championship, Sendai Classic, Yonex Open Hiroshima, PGA Championship, ANA Open, Japan Open Golf Championship
- 1990 (4) Fujisankei Classic, Yonex Open Hiroshima, Maruman Open, Daiwa KBC Augusta
- 1991 (2) PGA Championship, Jun Classic
- 1992 (6) Dunlop Open, The Crowns, Philanthropy Tournament, ANA Open, Japan Open Golf Championship, Taiheiyo Masters
- 1993 (3) Fujisankei Classic, PGA Championship, Golf Digest Tournament
- 1994 (7) Dunlop Open, Yonex Open Hiroshima, ANA Open, Japan Open Golf Championship, Daiwa International, Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters, Phoenix Tournament
- 1995 (5) The Crowns, Yonex Open Hiroshima, ANA Open, Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup
- 1996 (8) The Crowns, Japan PGA Championship, MitsubishiI Galant Tournament, JCB Classic Sendai, HIisamitsu-KBC Augusta, Gene Sarazen Jun Classic, Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup
- 1997 (5) Token Corporation Cup, The Crowns, Mitsubishi Galant Tournament, Hisamitsu-KBC Augusta, Bridgestone Open
- 1998 (3) Yonex Open Hiroshima, Hisamitsu-KBC Augusta, Phlip Morris Championship
- 1999 (2) Token Corporation Cup, Yonex Open Hiroshima
- 2000 (1) Sun Chlorella Classic
- 2002 (1) ANA Open
[edit] Other wins
this list is probably incomplete