is a Japanese professional golfer. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
Early life Aoki was born in Abiko, Chiba, Japan. He was introduced to golf while caddying at the Abiko Golf Club as a schoolboy.
Professional career In 1964, Aoki turned professional. He went on to win more than fifty events on the Japan Golf Tour between 1972 and 1990, trailing only Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki on the list of golfers with most Japan Golf Tour wins. He won the Japan Golf Tour money list five times in six years: 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981. His career earnings are 980 million yen.
In 1983, Aoki won the Hawaiian Open on the U.S.-based PGA Tour, the first Japanese and Asian player to win on the tour, and the Panasonic European Open on the European Tour. He also won the prestigious World Match Play Championship in England in 1978, which was not a European Tour event at that time, and picked up a win on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Aoki is also one of the nine players in the history of the Open Championship to shoot a round of just 63 shots (which he achieved in the third round of the 1980 event). Despite this being the joint-best round in the history of the tournament at the time, Aoki would only finish tied for 12th that year.
Aoki played 165 times on the PGA Tour between 1974 and 1999, primarily from 1981 to 1990. His best finish in a major championship was a second-place finish to Jack Nicklaus (by two strokes) in the 1980 U.S. Open. That finish, combined with his recent record in Japan and around the globe, meant that Aoki would finish 1980 ranked third in the unofficial McCormack's World Golf Rankings, a position he would hold at the end of 1981. After the Official World Golf Rankings debuted in 1986, he was ranked in the top-10 for several weeks in 1987.
In December 1984 after receiving an invitation from Gary Player, Aoki traveled to South Africa to participate in the Million Dollar Challenge. Aoki did this in spite of the efforts of the Japanese government to dissuade him from making the trip.Aoki to play in South Africa
As a senior, Aoki has played primarily in the United States on the Champions Tour, winning nine times between 1992 and 2003. He has eight senior victories outside the United States, including five victories in the Japan Senior Open where he shot his age, 65, during his most recent triumph in 2007.
Professional wins (80) PGA Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up113 Feb 1983Hawaiian Open−20 (66-70-65-67=268)1 stroke Jack Renner
European Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up14 Sep 1983Panasonic European Open−6 (65-70-70-69=274)2 strokes Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Carl Mason
PGA of Japan Tour wins (51) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up129 Apr 1973Chunichi Crowns−10 (66-67-68-69=270)1 stroke Lu Liang-Huan220 May 1973Pepsi-Wilson Tournament−7 (67-65-72-77=281)Playoff Kosaku Shimada317 Jun 1973Sapporo Tokyu Open−7 (69-71-67-74=281)1 stroke Lu Liang-Huan426 Aug 1973KBC Augusta−22 (64-67-68-67=266)13 strokes Yasuhiro Miyamoto521 Oct 1973Japan PGA Championship−13 (64-70-68-73=275)8 strokes Haruo Yasuda617 Feb 1974JPGA East-West Match−5 (139)714 Jul 1974Kanto Open−17 (65-65-71-70=271)12 strokes Takaaki Kona84 Aug 1974Kanto Pro Championship−21 (67-66-68-66=267)6 strokes Hideyo Sugimoto915 Sep 1974Sanpo Classic−12 (69-65-68-74=276)3 strokes Kuo Chie-Hsiung, Masashi Ozaki1029 Apr 1975Chunichi Crowns (2)−6 (68-68-68-68=272)1 stroke Teruo Sugihara1113 Jul 1975Kanto Open (2)−8 (72-72-69-67=280)1 stroke Fujio Kobayashi1217 Oct 1976Tokai Classic−5 (74-74-68-67=283)Playoff Teruo Sugihara, Shigeru Uchida1312 Jun 1977Tohoku Classic−10 (71-67-72-68=278)1 stroke Lu Liang-Huan1413 Nov 1977ABC Japan vs USA Golf Matches−8 (67-69-71-73=280)2 strokes Tom Weiskopf1530 Apr 1978Chunichi Crowns (3)−10 (63-67-69-70=270)5 strokes Masashi Ozaki1628 May 1978Japan PGA Match-Play Championship2 and 1 Takahiro Takeyasu1718 Jun 1978Sapporo Tokyu Open (2)−10 (70-69-67-72=278)5 strokes Hsieh Yung-yo186 Aug 1978Kanto Pro Championship (2)−14 (69-69-68-68=274)1 stroke Tsuneyuki Nakajima1912 Nov 1978ABC Japan vs USA Golf Matches (2)−15 (71-68-64-70=273)5 strokes Kosaku Shimada203 Dec 1978Golf Nippon Series−8 (69-69-73-71=282)1 stroke Haruo Yasuda2129 Apr 1979Chunichi Crowns (4)−1 (67-73-69-70=279)1 stroke Tōru Nakamura, Haruo Yasuda2220 May 1979Japan PGA Match-Play Championship (2)1 up Hsieh Min-Nan231 Jul 1979Kanto Pro Championship (3)−9 (68-66-72-73=279)5 strokes242 Dec 1979Golf Nippon Series (3)−14 (68-71-66-71=276)13 strokes Kikuo Arai, Tōru Nakamura254 May 1980Chunichi Crowns (5)E (69-68-71-72=280)2 strokes Graham Marsh2625 May 1980Yomiuri Open−9 (70-72-71-70=283)1 stroke Teruo Sugihara2731 Aug 1980KBC Augusta (2)−7 (68-69=137)2 strokes Hiroshi Tahara2828 Sep 1980Kanto Open (3) +2 (71-71-75-73=290)1 stroke Pete Izumikawa, Akira Yabe2930 Nov 1980Gene Sarazen Jun Classic−11 (68-67-70-72=277)1 stroke Seve Ballesteros3022 Mar 1981Shizuoka Open−9 (74-69-64-72=279)Playoff Akira Yabe3117 May 1981Japan PGA Match-Play Championship (3)38 holes Katsuji Hasegawa322 Aug 1981Japan PGA Championship (2)−11 (72-67-70-68=277)4 strokes Tōru Nakamura3316 May 1982Japan PGA Match-Play Championship (4)4 and 2 Yutaka Hagawa3412 Jun 1983Sapporo Tokyu Open (3)−14 (72-65-71-66=274)7 strokes Terry Gale353 Jul 1983Kanto Pro Championship (4)−10 (69-68-70-35=242)1 stroke Naomichi Ozaki362 Oct 1983Japan Open Golf Championship−7 (72-69-71-69=281)Playoff Terry Gale374 Dec 1983Golf Nippon Series (3)−7 (70-71-66-74=281)1 stroke Masahiro Kuramoto3815 Jun 1986Sapporo Tokyu Open (4)−15 (65-67-72-69=273)3 strokes Shinsaku Maeda3927 Jul 1986Japan PGA Championship (3)−16 (66-68-69-69=272)4 strokes Masashi Ozaki4031 Aug 1986KBC Augusta (3)−6 (74-72-69-67=282)1 stroke Masahiro Kuramoto, Masashi Ozaki417 Sep 1986Kanto Open (4)−13 (72-69-70-68=279)1 stroke Masashi Ozaki4226 Apr 1987Dunlop International Open1−11 (69-67-69-72=277)1 stroke Tsuneyuki Nakajima, Yoshitaka Yamamoto4320 Sep 1987ANA Open−6 (72-70-68-72=282)1 stroke Tsukasa Watanabe4411 Oct 1987Japan Open Golf Championship (2)−9 (70-68-71-70=279)1 stroke Tsuneyuki Nakajima, Nobuo Serizawa456 Dec 1987Golf Nippon Series (4)−7 (67-71=138)Shared title with David Ishii461 Oct 1989Tokai Classic (2)−13 (67-69-71-68=275)5 strokes Pete Izumikawa4726 Nov 1989Casio World Open−14 (70-70-65-69=274)1 stroke Larry Mize4827 May 1990Mitsubishi Galant Tournament +1 (70-76-71-72=289)3 strokes Masashi Ozaki, Teruo Sugihara, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama4927 Oct 1991Bridgestone Open−10 (71-63=134)1 stroke Tsuyoshi Yoneyama5031 May 1992Mitsubishi Galant Tournament (2)−11 (69-66-71-71=277)4 strokes Chen Tze-chung, Saburo Fujiki5129 Nov 1992Casio World Open (2)−11 (76-66-64-71=277)4 strokes Chen Tze-ming 1Co-sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit
PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (4–9) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11973Pepsi-Wilson Tournament Kosaku ShimadaWon with birdie on sixth extra hole21973World Friendship Lu Liang-Huan, Graham MarshLu won with birdie on first extra hole31974ANA Sapporo Open Masashi OzakiLost to birdie on first extra hole41976Tokai Classic Teruo Sugihara, Shigeru UchidaWon with birdie on first extra hole51979Japan Open Golf Championship Kuo Chie-Hsiung, Koichi Uehara, Yoshitaka YamamotoKuo won with birdie on fourth extra holeAoki and Uehara eliminated by birdie on first hole61981Shizuoka Open Akira YabeWon with par on third extra hole71981Golf Nippon Series Yutaka HagawaLost to birdie on first extra hole81983Niigata Open Hideto Shigenobu, Katsunari TakahashiShigenobu won with par on first extra hole91983Japan Open Golf Championship Terry GaleWon with par on second extra hole101984Chunichi Crowns Scott SimpsonLost to par on first extra hole111986Suntory Open Graham MarshLost to par on first extra hole121991Fujisankei Classic Saburo Fujiki, Brian Jones, Hideki KaseFujiki won with birdie on second extra hole131991Dunlop Phoenix Tournament Seve Ballesteros, Jay Don Blake, Larry NelsonNelson won with par on fourth extra holeBallesteros eliminated by birdie on third holeBlake eliminated by par on first hole
PGA Tour of Australia wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up122 Jan 1989Coca-Cola Classic−9 (69-73-66-71=279)1 stroke Rodger Davis, Peter Fowler, Tsuneyuki Nakajima, Peter O'Malley
Other wins (8) 1971 Kanto Pro Championship (Japan) 1972 Kanto Pro Championship (Japan) 1973 Gold Beck 1977 Jun Classic 1978 Colgate World Match Play Championship (England) 1982 Old Sones Invitational, Daikyo Open 1987 Fred Meyer Challenge (with Payne Stewart)
Senior PGA Tour wins (9) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up127 Sep 1992Nationwide Championship−8 (70-66=136)1 stroke Raymond Floyd218 Sep 1994Bank One Senior Classic−14 (69-64-69=202)3 strokes Chi-Chi Rodríguez325 Sep 1994Brickyard Crossing Championship−11 (66-67=133)1 stroke Jimmy Powell, Tom Wargo427 Aug 1995Bank of Boston Senior Classic−12 (69-66-69=204)1 stroke Bob Charles, Hale Irwin526 May 1996BellSouth Senior Classic−14 (64-68-70=202)1 stroke Graham Marsh, Jay Sigel630 Jun 1996Kroger Senior Classic−15 (63-69-66=198)1 stroke Mike Hill, Rocky Thompson728 Sep 1997Emerald Coast Classic−14 (71-60-65=196)Playoff Gil Morgan814 Jun 1998BellSouth Senior Classic (2)−18 (62-66-70=198)2 strokes Larry Nelson919 May 2002Instinet Classic−15 (69-67-65=201)4 strokes John Jacobs
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–4) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11994The Transamerica Kermit ZarleyLost to birdie on first extra hole21995The Tradition Jack NicklausLost to birdie on third extra hole31997Emerald Coast Classic Gil MorganWon with par on second extra hole41998Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic Leonard ThompsonLost to birdie on second extra hole52000State Farm Senior Classic Leonard ThompsonLost to birdie on second extra hole
Japan Senior PGA Tour wins (9) 1994 Japan Senior Open 1995 American Express Grand Slam, Japan Senior Open 1996 Japan Senior Open 1997 Japan Senior Open 2000 N. Cup Senior Open 2002 N. Cup Senior Open 2007 Japan Senior Open 2008 Kinojo Senior Open
Results in major championships Tournament19741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990Masters TournamentCUTCUTT28CUTT34CUTT45CUT19T25T16CUTCUTT25U.S. OpenT362T11T30T16T14T50T33T33The Open ChampionshipCUTT7T7T12T11T20T47T7CUTPGA ChampionshipCUTT4T49CUTCUTT36CUTT38T17T40
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1977 Open Championship) "T" = tied
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 4 14 7U.S. Open 0 1 0 1 1 4 9 9The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 3 6 9 7PGA Championship 0 0 0 1 1 2 10 6Totals 0 1 0 2 5 16 42 29 Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1988 Masters – 1990 U.S. Open) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (five times)
Results in The Players Championship Tournament198219831984198519861987198819891990The Players ChampionshipCUTT43T15T7CUTT24T60CUTCUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in senior major championships Results not in chronological order before 2012. Tournament 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002Senior PGA Championship3T5T52T20T44T15T62T20CUTThe Tradition6T92T122T13T28T47T35Senior Players ChampionshipT5T36T30T23T14T18T1721U.S. Senior OpenT2010T311T49T4CUTT47T2T18
Tournament 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Senior PGA ChampionshipCUTT27T62T28CUTCUTCUTThe TraditionT20T53T32T67T71T5764Senior Players ChampionshipT12T28T1852U.S. Senior OpenT30T45CUTSenior British Open ChampionshipT14T22T36T60CUT50CUTDQCUTCUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut DQ = disqualified "T" indicates a tie for a place Note: The Senior British Open Championship did not become a major until 2003.
Team appearances World Cup (representing Japan): 1973, 1974 Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Japan): 1985, 1999, 2000 Nissan Cup/Kirin Cup (representing Japan): 1985, 1987, 1988