Isao Aoki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Isao Aoki青木 功 |
|
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | 31 August 1942 Abiko, Chiba, Japan |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Nationality |  Japan |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1964 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Japan Golf Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 80 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 1 |
| European Tour | 1 |
| Japan Golf Tour | 51 (2nd all-time) |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 1 |
| Champions Tour | 9 |
| Other | 17 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters Tournament | T16: 1985 |
| U.S. Open | 2nd: 1980 |
| The Open Championship | T7: 1978, 1979, 1988 |
| PGA Championship | T4: 1981 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 2004 |
| PGA of Japan Tour money list winner |
1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 |
Isao Aoki (青木 功, Aoki Isao, born 31 August 1942) is a famous Japanese professional golfer. He was recognized for his amazing career and was chosen for the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
Contents
Early Life and Golf Beginnings
Isao Aoki was born in Abiko, Chiba, Japan. He started playing golf when he was a schoolboy. He learned the game by working as a caddy at the Abiko Golf Club. A caddy helps golfers by carrying their clubs and giving advice.
A Champion Golfer's Career
Isao Aoki became a professional golfer in 1964. This means he started playing golf for money. He won more than fifty tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour between 1972 and 1990. Only one other golfer, Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki, has won more times on that tour. Aoki was the top earner on the Japan Golf Tour five times in six years, from 1976 to 1981.
Making History in Golf
In 1983, Aoki made history by winning the Hawaiian Open on the PGA Tour in the United States. He was the first Japanese and Asian player ever to win a tournament on this major American tour. That same year, he also won the Panasonic European Open in Europe.
Aoki also won the important HSBC World Match Play Championship in England in 1978. He also had a win on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Major Championship Moments
Isao Aoki played in many big golf tournaments, including the four major championships. His best result in a major was finishing second at the 1980 U.S. Open. He finished just two shots behind the legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
In the Open Championship, another major tournament, Aoki shot an incredible round of 63 strokes in 1980. At the time, this was one of the best scores ever recorded in the tournament's history.
Playing Around the World
Aoki played in 165 PGA Tour events between 1974 and 1999. His strong performances in Japan and around the world meant he was ranked third in the unofficial World Golf Rankings in 1980 and 1981. When the official rankings started in 1986, he was in the top-10 for several weeks in 1987.
In 1984, Aoki traveled to South Africa to play in the Million Dollar Challenge. He was invited by famous golfer Gary Player.
Senior Golf Success
As he got older, Aoki continued to play golf on the Champions Tour in the United States. This tour is for golfers aged 50 and over. He won nine times on this tour between 1992 and 2003. He also won eight senior tournaments outside the U.S., including the Japan Senior Open five times. In 2007, he even shot his age, 65, during his win at the Japan Senior Open!
Major Championship Performance Summary
Isao Aoki played in many major golf championships. Here's a quick look at his results:
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 7 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
| The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 |
| Totals | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 42 | 29 |
- He made the cut (meaning he played well enough to continue in the tournament) in 7 straight major championships from 1988 to 1990.
Team Golf Appearances
Isao Aoki also represented Japan in several team golf competitions:
- World Cup: 1973, 1974
- Alfred Dunhill Cup: 1985, 1999, 2000
- Nissan Cup/Kirin Cup: 1985, 1987, 1988
- UBS Warburg Cup (representing the Rest of the World team): 2001, 2002
- Dynasty Cup (representing Japan): 2003 (as a non-playing captain), 2005 (as a non-playing captain)
Awards and Recognition
Isao Aoki has received many honors for his contributions to golf:
- He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
- He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2008, an award from the Japanese government.
- He was given the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2015.
- In 2024, he was named a Person of Cultural Merit, a very high honor in Japan.
See also
- List of golfers with most Japan Golf Tour wins
