Torakichi Nakamura

Who was Torakichi Nakamura?

Torakichi Nakamura 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", 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.