Hall of Fame golfer Jumbo Ozaki dies at 78

Field Level Media|published: Wed 24th December, 13:47 2025

04/04/1990; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jumbo Ozaki drives the ball with an iron, Joe Ozaki and caddie watching at the Augusta National Golf Course during the 1990 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK

World Golf Hall of Famer Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki of Japan died Tuesday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 78.

Ozaki won 114 tournaments around the world, including a record 94 on the Japan Golf Tour between 1973 and 2002.

"He is an indispensable, one-of-a-kind figure in discussing men's golf, both now and in the future," the Japan Golf Tour posted on X, translated into English.

He never won a major but finished in the top 10 at the Masters (T8 in 1973), The Open Championship (T10 in 1979) and the U.S. Open (T6 in 1989). His 49 appearances in Grand Slam tournaments included 19 trips to the Masters, between 1972 and 2000.

Ozaki climbed as high as No. 5 in the world rankings in 1996 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

--Field Level Media

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