Hisako Higuchi
Professional golfer
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Biography
Hisako "Chako" Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口久子, born 13 October 1945 in Kawagoe, Saitama) is a Japanese professional golfer.
Higuchi won the LPGA Championship on 12 June 1977, making her the first Asian-born player to win a major championship for either men or women. (No Asian-born player would win a men's major until Yang Yong-eun won the 2009 PGA Championship.) She remains the only Japanese woman to win an LPGA major championship. Alongside Ayako Okamoto, she dominated the 1970s and 1980s in Japanese women's golf.
Higuchi studied golf from Torakichi Nakamura, a member of Japan's winning team at the 1957 World Cup of Golf. She turned pro in 1967 and went on to win 69 titles on the LPGA of Japan Tour. She was 31 when she won her LPGA Championship.
Higuchi became President of the LPGA of Japan Tour in 1996. In 2003, she became the first Japanese golfer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. She was soon to be followed by Isao Aoki (2004), Okamoto (2005), and Masashi Ozaki (2011).
Professional wins
LPGA of Japan Tour (69)
- 1968 (2) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship
- 1969 (2) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship
- 1970 (3) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, JGP Ladies Open
- 1971 (4) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, JGP Ladies Open, Tokai Classic
- 1972 (5) Japan LPGA Championship, JPGA Asahi Kokusai Tournament, JGP Ladies Open, Tokai Classic, Mizuno Golf Tournament
- 1973 (7) Japan LPGA Championship, World Ladies Golf Tournament, JGP Ladies Open, La Coste Cup Japan vs. U.S., Matsushima Ladies Open, Tokai Classic, Mizuno Golf Tournament
- 1974 (8) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, World Ladies Golf Tournament, LPGA Japan Classic, Chikuma Kogen Ladies Open, Tokyo Charity Classic, Sunster Ladies Match, Mizuno Golf Tournament
- 1975 (1) Tokai Classic
- 1976 (5) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, Sanpo Champions, Miyagi TV Cup Ladies Open Golf Tournament, Tokai Classic
- 1977 (3) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, Tokai Classic
- 1978 (3) Junon Ladies Open, Shinkoh Classic LPGA Tournament, Japan LPGA East vs. West
- 1979 (5) Fuji Heigen Ladies Open, Shinkoh Classic LPGA Tournament, Japan LPGA East vs. West, Hokuriku Queens Golf Cup, Toyotomi Ladies
- 1980 (3) Japan Women's Open, KBS Kyoto Ladies Golf Tournament, Tokai Classic
- 1981 (3) Okinawa Makiminato Auto Ladies Tournament, Tokushima Tsukinomiya Ladies Open Golf Tournament, Pioneer Cup
- 1982 (2) Hokuriku Queens Golf Cup, Kumamoto Chuou Ladies Cup Golf Tournament
- 1983 (5) Kibun Ladies Classic, Paris Ladies Classic, Japan LPGA East vs. West, LPGA Japan vs. U.S., Daioh Seishi Elleair Ladies Open Golf Tournament
- 1984 (2) Kumamoto Chuou Ladies Cup Golf Tournament, Kibun Ladies Classic
- 1985 (1) Chukyo TV-Bridgestone Ladies Open
- 1986 (2) Fujitsu Ladies, Tsumura-Itsuki Classic
- 1987 (1) Yamaha Cup Ladies Open
- 1990 (2) an Queens, Kohsaido Asahi Golf Cup
LPGA Tour (2)
| Legend |
| LPGA Tour major championships (1) |
| Other LPGA Tour (1) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 Aug 1976 | Colgate European Open | −12 (68-74-68-74=284) | 6 strokes | Sandra Palmer Kathy Whitworth |
| 2 | 12 Jun 1977 | LPGA Championship | −9 (71-67-72-69=279) | 3 strokes | Pat Bradley Sandra Post Judy Rankin |
LPGA Tour playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1979 | Women's Kemper Open | Donna Caponi JoAnne Carner Nancy Lopez Jan Stephenson | Carner won with par on second extra hole Caponi, Lopez, and Stephenson eliminated with par on first hole |
ALPG Tour (1)
- 1974 Wills Australian Ladies Open
Other (1)
- 1983 Sports Nippon Team Match
Major championships
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | LPGA Championship | −9 (71-67-72-69=279) | 3 strokes | Pat Bradley, Sandra Post, Judy Rankin |