Former Japanese golfer Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki, the most successful player in the history of the sport in his country, died on Tuesday, December 23, at the age of 78 from colon cancer, according to the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO).
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki, bio
"Masashi Ozaki passed away at 3:21 p.m. on the 23rd due to sigmoid colon cancer. His eldest son, Tomoharu, announced the news on the 24th. He was 78 years old. Since his diagnosis approximately a year ago, he was able to continue his treatment at home thanks to his strong will. The funeral will be held with only close family members present, in accordance with the deceased's wishes," the organization stated on its website.
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Ozaki, nicknamed Jumbo for his power off the tee and who began his sporting career in baseball, was known worldwide and holds the record for victories on the Japanese circuit, with 94 titles. He reached number five in the world in 1996 and achieved several Top 10 finishes at the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the British Open. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
The Rules of Golf are a set of standards and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert committee composed of members of the R&A and the USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision took effect on January 1, 2016. Amendments to the Rules of Golf are generally divided into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance. The rulebook, entitled "Rules of Golf," is published regularly and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Italian Golf Federation is responsible for overseeing competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R&A, ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members, and managing the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.
