Torakichi Nakamura

Torakichi Nakamura
— Golfer —
Personal information
Nickname Pete, Tora-san
Born (1915-09-17)17 September 1915
Yokohama, Japan
Died 11 February 2008(2008-02-11) (aged 92)
Height 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Weight 65 kg (143 lb; 10.2 st)
Nationality  Japan
Career
Status Professional
Former tour(s) Japan Golf Tour
Professional wins 13
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament 41st: 1958
U.S. Open DNP
The Open Championship DNP
PGA Championship DNP

Torakichi Nakamura (中村 寅吉 Nakamura Torakichi, 17 September 1915 – 11 February 2008)[1] was a Japanese 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",[2] was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture[1] 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.[3]

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.[2]

In 1974, Nakamura became President of the Japanese Ladies' Professional Golf Association.[2] He was a mentor and teacher to Hisako Higuchi, the current JLPGA chairwoman and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.[3]

Tournament wins

this list is probably incomplete

Team appearances

References

  1. 1 2 Torakichi Nakamura, 92, Golf Pioneer, Is Dead
  2. 1 2 3 Japanese golf legend Torakichi Nakamura dies at 92
  3. 1 2 On The Fairway: Pioneer's passing not end of era
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