Torakichi Nakamura
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese golfer
whose victory, with partner Koichi Ono, at the 1957 Canada Cup outside Tokyo
helped to spur a boom in golf in Japan.
Nakamura, also known as "Pete", "Tora-san," and "the Putting God", was born in Yokohama
, Kanagawa Prefecture
and became a caddy
at the age of 14. He became a professional golfer at the age of 20. He won the Japan Open
in 1952, and won it twice more in his career, and was the first Japanese player to play in the Masters Tournament, in 1958.
In 1957, Nakamura and Ono teamed up to win the country championship over a field which included Sam Snead
and Gary Player
. Nakamura also won the individual championship, at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama Prefecture
.
In 1974, Nakamura became President of the Japanese Ladies' Professional Golf Association
. He was a mentor and teacher to Hisako Higuchi
, the current JLPGA chairwoman and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
.
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 golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
whose victory, with partner Koichi Ono, at the 1957 Canada Cup outside Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
helped to spur a boom in golf in Japan.
Nakamura, also known as "Pete", "Tora-san," and "the Putting God", was born in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
and became a caddy
Caddy
In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
at the age of 14. He became a professional golfer at the age of 20. He won the Japan Open
Japan Open Golf Championship
The is Japan's national open golf championship. As of 2011, it is one of the three richest tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour, with a prize fund of ¥200 million...
in 1952, and won it twice more in his career, and was the first Japanese player to play in the Masters Tournament, in 1958.
In 1957, Nakamura and Ono teamed up to win the country championship over a field which included Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
and Gary Player
Gary Player
Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
. Nakamura also won the individual championship, at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
.
In 1974, Nakamura became President of the Japanese Ladies' Professional Golf Association
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...
. He was a mentor and teacher to Hisako Higuchi
Hisako Higuchi
is a Japanese professional golfer.Higuchi won the LPGA Championship on 12 June 1977, making her the first Asian-born player to win a major championship for either men or women. She remains the only Japanese woman to win an LPGA major championship...
, the current JLPGA chairwoman and 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...
.
Tournament wins
this list is probably incomplete- 1952 Japan OpenJapan Open Golf ChampionshipThe is Japan's national open golf championship. As of 2011, it is one of the three richest tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour, with a prize fund of ¥200 million...
- 1956 Japan OpenJapan Open Golf ChampionshipThe is Japan's national open golf championship. As of 2011, it is one of the three richest tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour, with a prize fund of ¥200 million...
- 1957 Kanto OpenKanto OpenThe Kanto Open is a golf tournament in Japan. It was played as early as 1955 and was an event on the Japan Golf Tour from 1973 to 1991. It was played in September at a variety of courses in Japan.-Winners:this list is incomplete*1999 Hisayuki Sasaki...
, Japan PGA ChampionshipJapan PGA ChampionshipThe is an annual golf tournament on the Japan Golf Tour. It has been played since 1926. It is played at a variety of courses throughout Japan. The purse for the 2011 event was ¥150,000,000, with ¥30,000,000 going to the winner...
, Canada Cup (team event with Koichi Ono and individual event) - 1958 Japan OpenJapan Open Golf ChampionshipThe is Japan's national open golf championship. As of 2011, it is one of the three richest tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour, with a prize fund of ¥200 million...
, Japan PGA ChampionshipJapan PGA ChampionshipThe is an annual golf tournament on the Japan Golf Tour. It has been played since 1926. It is played at a variety of courses throughout Japan. The purse for the 2011 event was ¥150,000,000, with ¥30,000,000 going to the winner... - 1959 Japan PGA ChampionshipJapan PGA ChampionshipThe is an annual golf tournament on the Japan Golf Tour. It has been played since 1926. It is played at a variety of courses throughout Japan. The purse for the 2011 event was ¥150,000,000, with ¥30,000,000 going to the winner...
- 1960 Chunichi Crowns
- 1962 Kanto OpenKanto OpenThe Kanto Open is a golf tournament in Japan. It was played as early as 1955 and was an event on the Japan Golf Tour from 1973 to 1991. It was played in September at a variety of courses in Japan.-Winners:this list is incomplete*1999 Hisayuki Sasaki...
, Japan PGA ChampionshipJapan PGA ChampionshipThe is an annual golf tournament on the Japan Golf Tour. It has been played since 1926. It is played at a variety of courses throughout Japan. The purse for the 2011 event was ¥150,000,000, with ¥30,000,000 going to the winner... - 1973 Japan PGA Senior ChampionshipJapan PGA Senior ChampionshipThe Japan PGA Senior Championship is one of the major events on the Japan Senior Tour. It was first played in 1962. The 2007 prize money was ¥50,000,000.-Winners:this list is incomplete*2010 Hideki Kase*2009 Kiyoshi Murota*2008 Tsukasa Watanabe...
- 1976 Japan PGA Senior ChampionshipJapan PGA Senior ChampionshipThe Japan PGA Senior Championship is one of the major events on the Japan Senior Tour. It was first played in 1962. The 2007 prize money was ¥50,000,000.-Winners:this list is incomplete*2010 Hideki Kase*2009 Kiyoshi Murota*2008 Tsukasa Watanabe...