World Golf Hall of Famer Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki, a 94-time winner on the Japan Tour, has died from colon cancer at the age of 78
JAPANESE golf legend Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki has died at the age of 78.
His son, Tomoharu Ozaki, announced that the World Golf Hall of Famer died on Tuesday due to stage 4 sigmoid colon cancer.
The golfer had been undergoing treatment at home for about a year after his diagnosis.
Ozaki won 94 times on the Japan Golf Tour, securing his first title in 1973.
He won the Japan Tour Order of Merit a record 12 times throughout his illustrious career.
Nicknamed “Jumbo” for his exceptional driving distance, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
The Yomiuri daily stated he “explosively elevated the popularity of golf (in Japan) with his overwhelming driving distance and colourful personality”.
He was part of a famous golfing family, with younger brothers Naomichi and Tateo also among the tour’s all-time top money winners.
At age 66 in 2013, he shot a nine-under-par 62 to match his age in a domestic tour event.
“Shooting my age is not something I try to do,” Ozaki said after that round at the Tsuruya Open.
Yutaka Morohoshi, chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, said the golf world had lost a “great”.
“He long steered the men’s professional golf world and overwhelmed others with his unparalleled strength,” his statement read.
The funeral will be a private ceremony attended by close family members.
