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, over 40 more than the second highest player. Ozaki was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Early life
Ozaki was born in Kaifu District, Tokushima.
Professional career
Ozaki was a professional baseball pitcher/outfielder from 1965 to 1967 with the Nishitetsu Lions. However, 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, in 96 tournaments, though never more than nine in one year. In these starts, his best finish was a T-4 at the 1993 Memorial Tournament. Ozaki played on the International Team in the 1996 Presidents Cup. Ozaki built "AON Age" with his rivals Isao Aoki and Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima.
As late as 2019, he still played occasionally on the Japan Golf Tour.
Personal life
Ozaki's brothers Tateo Ozaki and Naomichi Ozaki are also professional golfers.
Professional wins (114)
Japan Golf Tour wins (94)
*Note: Tournament shortened to 54 holes due to weather. 1Co-sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit
Japan Golf Tour playoff record (12–9)
Other Japan wins (18) 1971 (5) Japan PGA Championship, Nippon Series, Golf Digest Tournament, Miki Gold Cup (tie with Billy Casper), Setouchi Series Hiroshima leg 1972 (9) Wizard Tournament, Sapporo Open, Kanto Open, All Nippon Doubles, Nippon Series, Grand Monarch Tournament, First Flight Tournament, Chiba Open, Asahi International 1976 Chiba Open 1984 Kanagawa Open 1985 Kanagawa Open 1992 Sanko Grand Summer Tournament
New Zealand Circuit wins (1)
Other wins (1)
Results in major championships
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary
Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (twice) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (three times)
Results in The Players Championship
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances
This list may be incomplete. World Cup (representing Japan): 1974, 1988 Four Tours World Championship: (representing Japan) 1986 (winners), 1987, 1989 Presidents Cup (International team): 1996