Jumbo Into The Hall Of Fame; World Didn't See That One Coming Either

Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki Elected into World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum

Ozaki to Join Class of 2011 at Induction Ceremony in Florida in May 2011

Tokyo, Japan (Oct. 6, 2010) – World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum will induct Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki on Monday, May 9, 2011 at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida USA. Ozaki joins the Class of 2011 which includes South Africa native Ernie Els, Americans Doug Ford and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Scotland’s late Jock Hutchison.

Ozaki was elected through the World Golf Hall of Fame’s International Ballot.

Jack Peter, chief operating officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum, who was at today’s announcement in Tokyo, said: “Jumbo Ozaki is most deserving of this honor as his long and impressive career shines brightly for golf in Japan and around the world. We look forward to sharing his story in the Hall of Fame & Museum for years to come.”

Ozaki will become the fourth World Golf Hall of Fame member from Japan, joining Hisako “Chako” Higuchi (2003 Inductee), Isao Aoki (2004 Inductee) and Ayako Okamoto (2005 Inductee).

”I am very happy, very honored and appreciate everyone who has supported me since I turned pro in 1970 … but to be honest I feel I am still an active player and I want to keep competing on the Tour,” said Ozaki. “The emergence of players like Ryo Ishikawa force me to keep my game sharp. I am delighted to join the other legends of the Hall. My only regret is not playing more outside of Japan, but I dedicated my life to Japanese golf and am extremely grateful the voters thought I was worthy of this honor."

Born in Tokushima, Ozaki has more than 100 wins in Japan and was the leading money winner on the Japan Golf Tour 12 times since 1973. His career includes competition in more than 40 major championships, which included top-10 showings in the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and Open Championship. He has won six Japan PGA Championships and five Japan Opens.

Ozaki received 50 percent of the votes on the International Ballot. A complete list of International Ballot results is below. Els was elected through the PGA TOUR Ballot. Ford and Hutchison were Veterans Category selections and President Bush was the Lifetime Achievement selection.

In addition to the celebration of Ozaki’s career at the 2011 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in St. Augustine, Florida USA, the Hall of Fame & Museum will recognize and honor his accomplishments among other greats of the game year-round. Ozaki will have a special inductee display of artifacts and photos, a bronze relief plaque on the Hall of Fame’s “Wall of Fame,” a locker in the “Member Locker Room” exhibition and his autograph etched in granite outside the Hall of Fame & Museum. His name will be added to the Japanese flag which, among 15 other countries, flies outside the Hall of Fame & Museum year-round.

This is just frightening:

Class of 2011 International Ballot Results

Candidate Percentage of Votes
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki 50%
Sandy Lyle 45%
Colin Montgomerie 29%
Peter Alliss 26%
Ian Woosnam 24%
Graham Marsh 21%
Retief Goosen 20%
Norman Von Nida 16%
Darren Clarke 6%
Max Faulkner 8%

Comments

[Willie]

Next up: Sadahara Oh to Cooperstown.

[Brad Ford]

Stuffing the ballot box - Japanese Style.

[OWGR Fan]

They really need to do away with the 65% else 50% rule for the HOF Voting.


From the World Gof HOF website...

International Ballot

Men and women a minimum of 40 years old
Cumulative 50 points earned from major wins, international tour wins and Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup participation. The International Voting Body, also comprised of golf journalists, historians and golf dignitaries, determines who is elected through this category each year.

Election requires 65% of returned ballots. In the event that no candidate receives 65%, the nominee receiving the most votes with at least 50% is elected.

[Marcus Coyote Esq.]

I wonder what Norman thinks of sharing a locker in the hof with Jumbo. Afterall, it was Norman who accused jumbo of cheating in the Dunlop pheonix many years ago, only to be effectively told you don't question jumbo when playing in japan.

[Petrillo]

Appalling. Jumbo got more votes than Sandy Lyle - the winner of 2 majors?

[The O]

What's so frightening? That Perrienial major also-ran Mrs. Doubtfire would get more votes than actual major winner Ian Woosnam?

[RickABQ]

What was really scary was that Lisa Ly Nguyen Pavin got 5% of the vote.... all from European voters after her wardrobe malfunction at the RC.

[johnhuggan]

This is disgraceful on so many levels. I'll be resigning as a voter in this farce asap.....

[Mike Clayton]

Jumbo twice as good as Graham Marsh ? - who actually won events outside of his own country while using legal balls and always playing by the rules.
Jumbo did win the New Zealand PGA in 1972.

[lawrence donegan]

First George Bush, and now this ridiculous decision.

Sandy Lyle has won two major championships and 26 other tournaments, five of them in the US - including a Players Championship.

And he is not in the Hall of Fame?

What a bogus organisation. ZERO CREDIBILITY.


Lawrence Donegan

[ts]

Well, perfectly fitting. For the xenophobic just relax. Jumbo was/is a force within Asia - actually, the biggest force for decades. It's a worldwide game (i.e. World Golf Hall of Fame). That doesn't require anyone to whore themselves or their country to the beck and call of the "golf bodies". He got the votes, and it is long overdue. Almost as overdue as Doug Ford. This is my favorite and most deserving class to date.

[CRS]

Why does the "World Golf HOF" have a separate "International" vote?

[Ivan Morris]

Latest HOF decision is grotesque and bizarre...............

[Hod]

The only professional golfer I ever saw cheat.

[Longy]

There is too much smoke regarding Jumbo and cheating. That's why I always thought he couldn't perform overseas...too much scrutiny.

Von Nida probably ranked where he should in that ballot, but wouldn't it be great to see a hard nut battler like him get elected. I heard he had to break sheep heads open with his hands to make a living at some stage.

I DON"T think he had a private jet to get to Britain to play.

[MacDuff]

Any chance of getting a Chinese golfer in there soon? This would definitely help the predicted burgeoning of Chinese visitors to St. Augustine in the fu...oh forget it; anything to claw back a few grains of trillions of $$ debt.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Is there a Yakuza branch in St. Augustine?

[GeorgeM]

"Why does the "World Golf HOF" have a separate "International" vote?"
CRS - The International ballot is intended for players not eligible through PGA or LPGA.
That is appropriate.
Now, WHY are Goosen and other PGA members on the International ballot?

[Taffy]

I would vote for VonNida! What a character.

[mel]

It wasn't just Greg Norman who accused Jumbo of cheating. If I remember correctly it was common knowledge that Jumbo didn't play by the rules. There were accusations of improving lies, improper marking of putts, balls moving in the rough - definitely not Hall of Fame material.

[Davo from Sydney]

If he cheated, he should have been called straight away. A bit lame now to complain. Its done and dusted.

Isn't the HOF designed to attract tourists? If so, there's more reason for Japanese tourists to visit.

I fully support Doug Ford's elevation, but will one more tourist decide to go because of his induction? Maybe, maybe not...just saying.

[fatgoalie]

Davo
It was called on him, just glossed over due to his power over the JPGA.
There were also plenty of instances when players asked to have his equipment and golf balls checked when he came to the US, where he rarely was a factor.

[Bob Jonz]

Lloyd Cole and Alice Cooper before GWB or Lady Gaga.