Who's who: Joe Ozaki

  • Photo of Joe Ozaki
  • japan.png
  • Photo of Joe Ozaki
  • japan.png

Who's who: Joe Ozaki

  • Name:

    Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki
  • Country:

    Japan
  • Born:

    May 18, 1956 in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1977

Roll of Honour

Presidents Cup player (1998). Total professional wins (38), including Japan Tour (32) and Japan Snr Tour (2). Japan Tour leading money winner (1991, '99).

Did you know?

Joe Ozaki is a member of Japan's most famous golfing family, with older brothers Masashi 'Jumbo' Ozaki and Tateo 'Jet' Ozaki also prolific winners on the Japan Tour. With 32 wins, Joe is the fourth most prolific winner on the Japan Tour to date, behind his brother Jumbo Ozaki (94 wins) and contemporaries Isao Aoki (51 wins) and Tommy Nakajima (48).

Top tournaments won by Joe Ozaki

2005
Japan
Yamanohara GC
271 (-13)
¥20million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Yamanohara GC

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

¥20million

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tsuruya Open (April 21-24; Japan Tour event). Second-placed Ryoken Kawagishi (Jpn) and Paul Sheehan (Aus) finished 3 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn), who won this event for the second time. [Yamanohara course, Yamanohara GC, Hyogo, Jpn].

2005
Japan
269 (-11)
¥24million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Score

269 (-11)

Prize money

¥24million

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 28-May 1; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). 48-year-old Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) beat Steven Conran (Aus) in a playoff, to record the last of his 32 Japan Tour wins. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].

2003
Japan
267 (-21)
¥22million
Bridgestone

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

¥22million

Title sponsor

Bridgestone

Played as the Bridgestone Open (Oct 23-26; Japan Tr event). 47-year-old Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) beat Paul Sheehan (Aus) with a birdie at the second playoff hole, to record his 30th Japan Tour win. [Sodegaura course, Sodegaura CC, Chiba, Jpn].

2000
Japan
281 (-3)
¥24million
JGA

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Score

281 (-3)

Prize money

¥24million

Title sponsor

JGA

Played as the Japan Open (Oct 12-15; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Keng-chi Lin (Taiw) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Takanodai CC, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture].

1999
Japan
Yamanohara GC
273 (-15)
¥20million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Yamanohara GC

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

¥20million

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tsuruya Open (April 15-18; Japan Tour event). Second-placed Toru Suzuki (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Yamanohara course, Yamanohara GC, Hyogo, Jpn; at the time known as Sports Shinko CC].

1999
Japan
298 (+10)
¥24million
JGA

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Otaru

Score

298 (+10)

Prize money

¥24million

Title sponsor

JGA

Played as the Japan Open (Sept 30-Oct 3; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Kazuhiko Hosokawa (Jpn) and Nobumitsu Yuhara (Jpn) finished finished 2 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [New course, Otaru CC, Otaru, Hokkaido, Jpn].

1999
Japan
Twin Fields, Jpn
283 (-5)
¥22million
PGA of Japan

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Twin Fields, Jpn

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

¥22million

Title sponsor

PGA of Japan

Played as the Japan PGA Championship (May 13-16; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind his younger brother Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). One shot further back was Tateo "Jet" Ozaki (Jpn), the middle of the three golfing brothers. [GC Twin Fields, Komatsu, Ishikawa, Jpn].

1999
Awards
Yn137mill
see Score
Japan Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Score

Yn137mill

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Japan Tr

Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) won his second Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1999 season earnings of Yn137,641,796. Kazuhiko Hosokawa (Jpn) was second with Yn129,058,283; Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) was third with Yn114,958,525. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events, golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA), and WGC events (except WGC team events).

1999
Awards
69.26
n/a
Japan Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Score

69.26

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Japan Tr

Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Toshimitsu Izawa (Jpn) was second with 69.86; Kazuhiko Hosokawa (Jpn) was third with 69.99.

1996
Japan
ABC GC
278 (-10)
¥36million
Philip Morris

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

ABC GC

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

¥36million

Title sponsor

Philip Morris

Played as the Philip Morris Championship (Oct 24-27; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), David Ishii (USA) and Russ Cochran (USA) finished 4 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [ABC GC, Kato, Hyogo, Japan].

1992
Japan
ABC GC
279 (-9)
¥36million
Lark

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

ABC GC

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

¥36million

Title sponsor

Lark

Played as the Lark Cup (Oct 29-Nov 1; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind his younger brother Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [ABC GC, Kato, Hyogo, Japan].

1991
Japan
Tokyo Yomiuri CC
268 (-20)
¥15million
Hitachi

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Tokyo Yomiuri CC

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

¥15million

Title sponsor

Hitachi

Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Dec 5-8; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Nobumitsu Yuhara (Jpn) finished 8 shots behind defending champion Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo, Japan].

1991
Awards
Yn119mill
see Score
Japan Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Score

Yn119mill

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Japan Tr

Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) won the Japan Golf Tour 1991 Money List, with earnings of Yn119,507,974. Roger McKay (Aus) was second with Yn113,137,135; Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) was third with Yn111,639,213. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).

1991
Japan
Ibusuki GC
270 (-18)
¥25million
Casio

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Ibusuki GC

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

¥25million

Title sponsor

Casio

Played as the Casio World Open (Nov 28-Dec 1; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Hajime Meshiai (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Kaimon course, Ibusuki GC, Ibusuki, Kagoshima, Japan].

1990
Japan
Tokyo Yomiuri CC
275 (-13)
¥15million
Hitachi

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Tokyo Yomiuri CC

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

¥15million

Title sponsor

Hitachi

Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Nov 28-Dec 2; Japanese major ch'ship). Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) beat Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) in a playoff. [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].

1988
Japan
Tokyo Yomiuri CC
275 (-13)
¥14million
Hitachi

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Tokyo Yomiuri CC

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

¥14million

Title sponsor

Hitachi

Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Nov 30-Dec 4; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed and defending champion Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 5 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].

1986
Japan
Ube 72 CC
276 (-12)
¥7.2million
Pepsi

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Ozaki, Joe

Venue

Ube 72 CC

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

¥7.2million

Title sponsor

Pepsi

Played as the Pepsi Ube Open (May 21-24). Second-placed Fujio Kobayashi (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded his fifth Japan Tour win. [Mannennike North course, Ube 72 CC, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan].

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