The year 2014 marks a special milestone for Japanese golfer Isao Aoki. In October he made a return visit to the World Golf Hall of Fame with a television crew in tow to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame and to commemorate his 50 years as a professional golfer.
Like many international golf professionals and American greats from previous years, Aoki came to golf through the caddie ranks while working at the Abiko Golf Club as a boy. He fell in love with the game and idolized Arnold Palmer when he saw Palmer play on television. At that point he determined his future – he would play professional golf. In 1964, at age 22 he turned pro and within the first decade he had won 12 professional victories.
He would go on to lead the Japanese Golf Tour money list five times throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s and won the Colgate World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, England in 1978. His first PGA TOUR victory came at the 1983 Hawaiian Open, followed by a victory during the same year on the European Tour at the European Open Championship.
Isao Aoki has won over 73 victories worldwide on six different professional tours.
His career has been one that has paved the way for other Japanese golfers.
He is the first Japanese golfer:
- To win the World Match Play Championship
- To win on the PGA TOUR
- To win the European Open
- To be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
During his visit to the World Golf Hall of Fame, he gave a walking tour of the museum to the television cameras stopping to examine his portrait before spending time at his locker. He gave a demonstration of his golf swing using the clubs in his locker before taking the group out to try his hand at the Challenge Hole. It was obvious that he still has the swing of a champion.The World Golf Hall of Fame congratulates Isao Aoki on his accomplishments during a sterling golf career.
Visitors can explore the items currently on display in Isao Aoki’s locker at the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum.
