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Japan Golf Tour record winner Jumbo Ozaki dies at 78

Masashi Ozaki acknowledges the fans after winning the Japan PGA Championship at Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan, on Sept. 19, 1971, for his first career win. Nicknamed Jumbo Ozaki, he died of sigmoid colon cancer aged 78 on Dec. 23, 2025, after scoring 112 wins, the most for a Japanese player, including 94 on the Japan Golf Tour.

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Japan Golf Tour record winner Jumbo Ozaki dies at 78

Masashi Ozaki lifts the victor's trophy after winning the ANA Open golf tournament at Sapporo Golf Club in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Sept. 22, 2002, becoming the oldest winner on the Japan Golf Tour at 55 years and 7 months. Nicknamed Jumbo Ozaki, he died of sigmoid colon cancer aged 78 on Dec. 23, 2025, after scoring 112 wins, the most for a Japanese player, including 94 on the Japan Golf Tour.

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Japan Golf Tour record winner Jumbo Ozaki dies at 78

Former professional golfer Masashi Ozaki speaks to the media in Ichihara in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, in September 2020. Nicknamed Jumbo Ozaki, he died of sigmoid colon cancer aged 78 on Dec. 23, 2025, after scoring 112 wins, the most for a Japanese player, including 94 on the Japan Golf Tour.