Ayako Okamoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional golf
er. She won 62 tournaments internationally, including 17 on the American
LPGA Tour
. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
.
now part of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
, Japan
. In her youth and early 20s, she was a softball player. She was the star pitcher on the Japanese national champion in 1971. Her club team was owned by the textile company Daiwabo, where Okamoto worked. The company owned a golf facility next door, and when she was 22, Okamoto finally decided to start playing. Although she pitched left-handed, she learned golf right-handed. She would join the LPGA of Japan Tour
in 1973. Just three years later, at age 25, she won the Mizuno Corporation Tournament. In 1979, at age 28, Okamoto won the Japan LPGA Championship
, and in 1981 she won eight times in Japan and topped the LPGA of Japan money list.
in 1981. From 1982 through 1992, Okamoto won 17 times, her first coming at the 1982 Arizona Copper Classic
. Okamoto was a consistent winner on the LPGA Tour, claiming four wins in 1987 (plus four runner-ups and 17 top-10s) and three wins each in 1984 and 1988. In 1987, she led the tour's money list and earned the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award, the first non-American to do either.
The only thing Okamoto did not do in the United States
was win a major. She finished as runner-up six times in major championships. Her best opportunities came in 1986, when she lost a sudden death playoff to Pat Bradley at the du Maurier Classic and in 1987 when she lost an 18-hole playoff to Laura Davies
for the U.S. Women's Open crown (JoAnne Carner
was also in the playoff). She was in the top-10 at the Open every year from 1983 to 1987, and in the top-10 at the LPGA Championship
every year from 1984 to 1991.
Okamoto's last LPGA victory was in 1992, and 1993 was her last year to play a full or half schedule in the U.S. After 1993, Okamoto returned to Japan, where she played until 2005. In addition to her 17 LPGA wins, Okamoto also won 44 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour and once on the Ladies European Tour
. She was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
on the International ballot and entered in 2005.
Tournament in bold denotes major championships on LPGA of Japan Tour.
DNP = did not play.
CUT = missed the half-way cut.
"T" = tied
WD = withdrew
Yellow background for a top-10 finish.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. She won 62 tournaments internationally, including 17 on the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
LPGA Tour
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
.
Early career
Okamoto was born in Akitsu, HiroshimaAkitsu, Hiroshima
was a town located in Toyota District, Hiroshima, Japan.On February 7, 2005 Akitsu, along with the towns of Fukutomi, Kōchi, Kurose and Toyosaka, all from Kamo District, was merged into the expanded city of Higashihiroshima and no longer exists as an independent municipality.As of 2003, the town...
now part of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.Higashihiroshima is a university town of Hiroshima University. Higashihiroshima is adjacent to Hiroshima, and so also forms a commuter town of Hiroshima....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In her youth and early 20s, she was a softball player. She was the star pitcher on the Japanese national champion in 1971. Her club team was owned by the textile company Daiwabo, where Okamoto worked. The company owned a golf facility next door, and when she was 22, Okamoto finally decided to start playing. Although she pitched left-handed, she learned golf right-handed. She would join the LPGA of Japan Tour
LPGA of Japan Tour
The Japan LPGA Tour is a professional golf tour for women organised by the Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan. It is the second richest women's golf tour in the world. The U.S.-based LPGA Tour is the most important women's tour, but the prize money gap has closed markedly since the...
in 1973. Just three years later, at age 25, she won the Mizuno Corporation Tournament. In 1979, at age 28, Okamoto won the Japan LPGA Championship
Japan LPGA Championship
, is the first-longest running tournament in the history of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association. surpassed only by Japan Women's Open...
, and in 1981 she won eight times in Japan and topped the LPGA of Japan money list.
LPGA career
Okamoto was a superstar in Japan, but she decided to branch out and joined the American LPGA TourLPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
in 1981. From 1982 through 1992, Okamoto won 17 times, her first coming at the 1982 Arizona Copper Classic
Welch's/Fry's Championship
The Welch's/Fry's Championship was a golf tournament for professional female golfers that was part of the LPGA Tour from 1981 to 2004. It was played at the Randolph Golf Course in Tucson, Arizona...
. Okamoto was a consistent winner on the LPGA Tour, claiming four wins in 1987 (plus four runner-ups and 17 top-10s) and three wins each in 1984 and 1988. In 1987, she led the tour's money list and earned the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award, the first non-American to do either.
The only thing Okamoto did not do in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was win a major. She finished as runner-up six times in major championships. Her best opportunities came in 1986, when she lost a sudden death playoff to Pat Bradley at the du Maurier Classic and in 1987 when she lost an 18-hole playoff to Laura Davies
Laura Davies
Laura Jane Davies CBE is an English professional golfer.She is considered the most accomplished English female golfer of modern times being the first non-American to finish at the top of the LPGA money list...
for the U.S. Women's Open crown (JoAnne Carner
JoAnne Carner
JoAnne Gunderson Carner is a former American professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person ever to...
was also in the playoff). She was in the top-10 at the Open every year from 1983 to 1987, and in the top-10 at the LPGA Championship
LPGA Championship
The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour...
every year from 1984 to 1991.
Okamoto's last LPGA victory was in 1992, and 1993 was her last year to play a full or half schedule in the U.S. After 1993, Okamoto returned to Japan, where she played until 2005. In addition to her 17 LPGA wins, Okamoto also won 44 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour and once on the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
. She was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
on the International ballot and entered in 2005.
LPGA Tour wins (17)
- 19821982 LPGA TourThe 1982 LPGA Tour was the 33rd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 28 to November 7. The season consisted of 35 official money events. JoAnne Carner and Beth Daniel won the most tournaments, five each...
(1) Arizona Copper Classic - 19831983 LPGA TourThe 1983 LPGA Tour was the 34th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 27 to November 13. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Pat Bradley and Patty Sheehan won the most tournaments, four each...
(1) Rochester International - 19841984 LPGA TourThe 1984 LPGA Tour was the 35th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 26 to November 4. The season consisted of 36 official money events. Amy Alcott and Patty Sheehan won the most tournaments, four each...
(3) J&B Scotch Pro-AmJ&B Scotch Pro-AmThe J&B Scotch Pro-Am was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1985. It was played at several courses in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.-Tournament locations:-Winners:J&B Scotch Pro-Am*1985 Patty Sheehan*1984 Ayako Okamoto*1983 Nancy Lopez...
, Mayflower ClassicMayflower ClassicThe Mayflower Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1988. It was played at three different course in Indiana.-Tournament locations:-Winners:Mayflower Classic*1988 Terry-Jo Myers*1987 Colleen Walker*1986 Sandra Palmer...
, Hitachi Ladies British Open - 19861986 LPGA TourThe 1986 LPGA Tour was the 37th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 23 to November 9. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Pat Bradley won the most tournaments, five. She also led the money list with earnings of $492,021.There were five...
(2) Elizabeth Arden ClassicElizabeth Arden ClassicThe Elizabeth Arden Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1969 to 1986. It was played at several different courses in the Miami, Florida area.-Tournament locations:-Winners:Elizabeth Arden Classic*1986 Ayako Okamoto*1985 JoAnne Carner...
, Cellular One-Ping Golf Championship - 19871987 LPGA TourThe 1987 LPGA Tour was the 38th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 29 to November 8. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Jane Geddes won the most tournaments, five...
(4) Kyocera Inamori Golf Classic, Chrysler-Plymouth ClassicChrysler-Plymouth ClassicThe Chrysler-Plymouth Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1989. It was played at several courses, mostly in New Jersey.-Tournament locations:-Winners:Chrysler-Plymouth Classic*1989 Cindy Rarick*1988 Nancy Lopez*1987 Ayako Okamoto...
, Lady Keystone OpenLady Keystone OpenThe Lady Keystone Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1975 to 1994. In its first year it was a satellite tour event but became a full event in 1976...
, Nestle World Championship - 19881988 LPGA TourThe 1988 LPGA Tour was the 39th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 4 to November 6. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, and Ayako Okamoto won the most tournaments, three each...
(3) Orient Leasing Hawaiian Ladies Open, San Diego Inamori Golf Classic, Greater Washington OpenGreater Washington OpenThe Greater Washington Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1988 to 1989. It was played at the Bethesda Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.... - 19891989 LPGA TourThe 1989 LPGA Tour was the 40th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 13 to November 5. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Betsy King won the most tournaments, six...
(1) LPGA Corning ClassicLPGA Corning ClassicThe LPGA Corning Classic was an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. It took place every year from 1979 through 2009 at the Corning Country Club in Corning, New York.... - 19901990 LPGA TourThe 1990 LPGA Tour was the 41st season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 19 to November 4. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Beth Daniel won the most tournaments, seven...
(1) Sara Lee ClassicSara Lee ClassicThe Sara Lee Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1988 to 2002. It was played at Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, Tennessee from 1988 to 1999. In 2000, the tournament moved to the Legends Club of Tennessee in Franklin, Tennessee and changed its name to the Electrolux USA... - 19921992 LPGA TourThe 1992 LPGA Tour was the 43rd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 30 to November 8. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Dottie Mochrie won the most tournaments, four...
(1) McDonald's ChampionshipMcDonald's Championship (golf)The McDonald's Championship was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1981 to 1993. It was played at the White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1986 and at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware from 1987 to 1993.-Winners:...
- Note: Okamoto won the Hitachi Ladies British Open (now known as the Women's British OpenWomen's British OpenThe Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
) before it became a major championship.
LPGA of Japan Tour wins (44)
- 1975 (1) Mizuno Corporation Tournament
- 1976 (1) All-Star
- 1977 (4) World Ladies Golf TournamentWorld Ladies Championship Salonpas CupThe World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup is one of the four major golf tournaments for women on the LPGA of Japan Tour. It was founded in 1973 by Nippon Television and has been classified as a major since 2008...
, Tohoku Queens, Asahi Toys, Japan Ladies Professional East vs. West - 1978 (1) KTV Ladies Classic
- 1979 (2) Japan LPGA ChampionshipJapan LPGA Championship, is the first-longest running tournament in the history of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association. surpassed only by Japan Women's Open...
, Tokai Classic - 1980 (3) Kumamoto Chuo Ladies, Hokuriku Queens, Saikai National Park Ladies Open
- 1981 (8) Sanin Ladies Golf, KBS Ladies, Fuji Ladies Classic, Hokuriku Queens, Stanley Ladies, Japan Ladies Professional East vs West, Miyagi TV Women's Open, Sanyo Queens
- 1982 (4) Tohato Ladies, Dunlop Ladies, Japan LPGA ChampionshipJapan LPGA Championship, is the first-longest running tournament in the history of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association. surpassed only by Japan Women's Open...
, Tokai Classic - 1983 (1) Sanyo Queens
- 1984 (1) Tsumura Itsuki Classic
- 1986 (1) Nichirei Ladies Cup
- 1987 (1) Konica Cup
- 1989 (2) Tokai Classic, Itoki Classic
- 1990 (1) Japan LPGA ChampionshipJapan LPGA Championship, is the first-longest running tournament in the history of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association. surpassed only by Japan Women's Open...
- 1991 (3) Yamaha Cup Ladies, Karuizawa 72 Tokyu Ladies, Kosaido Asahi Cup
- 1992 (2) Tohato Ladies, Fujisankei Ladies ClassicFujisankei Ladies ClassicThe Fujisankei Ladies Classic is an annual golf event on the LPGA of Japan Tour. It was first played in 1982. The tournament has been held at the Kawana Hotel's Fuji course since 2005. The prize fund in 2008 was ¥80,000,000, with ¥14,400,000 going to the winner...
- 1993 (2) Japan Women's Open Golf ChampionshipJapan Women's Open Golf ChampionshipThe is Japan's national women's open golf championship. From 2006 it is one of the two richest tournaments on the LPGA of Japan Tour, with a prize fund of 140 million Yen.Tournament names through the years:*1968-1970: TBS Women's Open...
, Itoen Ladies - 1994 (3) Tohato Ladies, Itoki Classic, Kosaido Asahi Cup
- 1996 (1) Fujisankei Ladies ClassicFujisankei Ladies ClassicThe Fujisankei Ladies Classic is an annual golf event on the LPGA of Japan Tour. It was first played in 1982. The tournament has been held at the Kawana Hotel's Fuji course since 2005. The prize fund in 2008 was ¥80,000,000, with ¥14,400,000 going to the winner...
- 1997 (1) Japan Women's Open Golf ChampionshipJapan Women's Open Golf ChampionshipThe is Japan's national women's open golf championship. From 2006 it is one of the two richest tournaments on the LPGA of Japan Tour, with a prize fund of 140 million Yen.Tournament names through the years:*1968-1970: TBS Women's Open...
- 1999 (1) Katokichi Queens
Tournament in bold denotes major championships on LPGA of Japan Tour.
Results in LPGA Majors
| Tournament | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship Kraft Nabisco Championship The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983... |
... | T40 | T64 | T34 | WD | T5 | T35 | CUT | T6 |
| LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
DNP | T44 | T7 | T5 | T3 | T3 | T3 | 2 | T9 |
| U.S. Women's Open | T38 | T8 | T8 | T8 | T3 | T2 | T12 | T11 | T32 |
| du Maurier Classic | DNP | T10 | 2 | T69 | 2 | 2 | T13 | T24 | T31 |
| Tournament | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship Kraft Nabisco Championship The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983... |
T6 | T12 | 79 | T19 | T37 | T48 | 64 | DNP | CUT | T67 |
| LPGA Championship LPGA Championship The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour... |
T2 | T15 | T37 | T28 | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Women's Open | T15 | CUT | T7 | T49 | T21 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| du Maurier Classic | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
DNP = did not play.
CUT = missed the half-way cut.
"T" = tied
WD = withdrew
Yellow background for a top-10 finish.
See also
- Golfers with most LPGA Tour winsGolfers with most LPGA Tour winsThis table lists players with 10 or more wins on the LPGA Tour. It is based on the list on the LPGA Tour's official site, which differs slightly from the main win lists on player's personal profiles on the site...
- Okamoto Ayako to Match Play GolfOkamoto Ayako to Match Play Golfis a Super Famicom golf video game that was released exclusively for the Japanese market in 1994.-Summary:As the title says, the game was endorsed by the Japanese professional golfer Ayako Okamoto and it takes place in the Ko Olina Golf Club, in Hawaii. This was not the first video game endorsed by...
- Super Famicom video game