Jinichiro Kozuma was born in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan on July 7, 1994, and has an older sister, Kotono Kozuma, who is a professional golfer with the Japan LPGA.

He turned professional in 2012 at the age of 18 and learned his trade on the Japan Challenge Tour, which is the national golf association’s development series.

Jinichiro landed his first Tour win as a professional at the 2016 Elite Grips Challenge, a two-round tournament which he topped by a stroke after sinking seven birdies in a bogey-free second-round 65.

That meant he and Kotono had become just the second pair of siblings to have claimed wins in Japanese pro golf.

His first victory on the top tier Japan Golf Tour was the 2020 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters in November, a one-stroke win snatched at the very last hole with an eagle on the par-5 18th .

It earned Kozuma a public message of support from sister Kotono, published on the official Japan Golf Tour website.

Roughly translated it read: “Dear brother, congratulations for your victory.

“The magnificent eagle on the final 18th hole was very much your style and made me happy with goosebumps.

“I know all of your rival players have won already and that has put many pressures on you.

“I saw you were always optimistic and practise so hard. I am so happy for you.

“I see you as a rival too and a comrade. You motivate me.

“So let’s keep on the hard road and let us both grab our second and third victories soon.”

For Jinichiro, that next win arrived in the 2021 Kyusyu Open at Saga Classic Golf Club.

His second official JGT win came in April 2022 at the Token Homemate Cup, where he led from the second round but needed a playoff on the 18th hole to beat his nearest challenger Yuto Katsuragawa.

That propelled him to 94th in the Official World Golf Ranking, a career best.

That same year he was one of the professional golfers offered the chance to take part in some early events in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Kozuma featured in the LIV London launch event in June, finishing in 16th place and later in the month took 6th in Portland, before making his final appearance in Bedminster, finishing 28th.

The next big step in the Japanese pro golfer’s career came courtesy of the LIV Golf Promotions event in December 2023 in the United Arab Emirates, from which he emerged with a golden ticket for the LIV Golf League in 2024.

LEADERBOARD