Captain’s Profile :

Naomichi ’Joe’ Ozaki has taken over stewardship of the Asian side from fellow Japanese star Masahiro Kuramoto in the hopes of leveling last year’s loss at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Ozaki is the youngest of three brothers that include Masashi (known as Jumbo) and Tateo (known as Jet); the three are a golfing dynasty. Masashi, the oldest brother taught his youngest brother the game. The threatening threesome have combined for over one hundred tournament titles and reigned supreme as the year-end No.1 player collectively on the Japanese Order of Merit over ten times.

Between 1984 and 2005, Joe Ozaki amassed thirty five professional tournament wins and was No.1 on the Japan Tour Order of Merit in 1991 and 1999.

In 2006, Joe Ozaki played on the PGA Champions Tour in the United States as a rookie. He tied a Champions Tour record at the Senior Players Championship when he accumulated eight consecutive birdies on the front nine. His eight-under-par 28 on the front nine was a 2006 nine-hole best.

The Royal Trophy Captain, throughout his global travels, carries a charm from a temple in his native Japan and a photo of his children to each tournament for good luck.