is a
Japanese professional
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 featured in the top ten of the
Official World Golf Rankings for almost 200 weeks between 1989 and 1998. He is 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 40 more than the second highest tally. Ozaki was elected to the
World Golf Hall of Fame in 2010 and was inducted in May 2011.
Ozaki was born in
Kaifu District, Tokushima. He was a professional
baseball pitcher/outfielder from 1965 to 1967 with the
Nishitetsu Lions, but he turned to professional golf at the age of 23 and won the
Japan PGA Championship the following year.
Ozaki led the Japan Golf Tour in earnings in 1973-74, 1977, 1988–90, 1992, and 1994-98.
Ozaki finished 8th at
The Masters in 1973 and finished 6th at the
U.S. Open in 1989. He competed at the Masters 19 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's brothers
Tateo "Jet" and
Naomichi "Joe" are also professional golfers. Now in his sixties, he still plays regularly on the Japan Golf Tour.
Ozaki played on the International...
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