Ryuji Imada
Encyclopedia
is a U.S.-based Japan
ese professional golf
er.
Imada was born in Mihara
, Hiroshima
, Japan
. He came to the United States when he was 14 to attend a Tampa golf academy for Asian players. His instructor was (and still is) Richard Abele, who became his legal guardian. Under Abele's teaching, he won several of the top tournaments on the amateur circuit and reached the final of the 1997 U.S. Amateur Public Links
. His accomplishments in the American Junior Golf Association led to a scholarship to University of Georgia, where he played for two years and helped the Bulldogs win the 1999 NCAA title.
Imada turned professional
in 1999. From 2000 to 2004 he played on the second tier Nationwide Tour
, winning the 2000 BUY.COM Virginia Beach Open and the 2004 BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs
. On the Monday following his win, Imada fired a back-nine score of 29 in U.S. Open
qualifying at Scotch Valley, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
. He was the medalist, with a score of 64, and advanced to sectional qualifying. His third place finish on the 2004 money list earned him promotion to the PGA Tour
.
In Imada's first season at the elite level, he had a best placing of fifth and earned enough money to retain his tour card for 2006. In the 2006 U.S. Open, he fired closing rounds of 69-71 to finish in a tie for 12th. His 69 in round three was one of only six under par rounds during a brutal weekend at Winged Foot.
In 2007, Imada had his best finish on the PGA Tour, finishing in 2nd place at the AT&T Classic
, winning $583,200. In 2008, Imada again finished in 2nd place at the Buick Invitational
, moving him into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings
. In May 2008 he won his first PGA Tour tournament at the AT&T Classic
, beating Kenny Perry
in a playoff, and reached the top 50 of the world rankings for the first time.
PGA Tour playoff record (1-1)
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er.
Imada was born in Mihara
Mihara
-People:*Asahiko Mihara, a Japanese politician*Kohei Mihara, a Japanese DJ*Masatoshi Mihara, a Japanese football player*Mitsuhiro Mihara, a Japanese film director*Mitsukazu Mihara, a Japanese animator*Yōko Mihara, a Japanese actress-Places:...
, Hiroshima
Hiroshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He came to the United States when he was 14 to attend a Tampa golf academy for Asian players. His instructor was (and still is) Richard Abele, who became his legal guardian. Under Abele's teaching, he won several of the top tournaments on the amateur circuit and reached the final of the 1997 U.S. Amateur Public Links
U.S. Amateur Public Links
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
. His accomplishments in the American Junior Golf Association led to a scholarship to University of Georgia, where he played for two years and helped the Bulldogs win the 1999 NCAA title.
Imada turned professional
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
in 1999. From 2000 to 2004 he played on the second tier Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
, winning the 2000 BUY.COM Virginia Beach Open and the 2004 BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs
BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs
The BMW Charity Pro-Am is a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour. It is played at Thornblade Club in Greer, South Carolina, The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Bright's Creek Golf Club in Mill Spring, North Carolina....
. On the Monday following his win, Imada fired a back-nine score of 29 in U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
qualifying at Scotch Valley, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Hollidaysburg is a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania, on the Juniata River, south of Altoona. It is the county seat of Blair County. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area and is one of the communities that comprises the Altoona Urban Area...
. He was the medalist, with a score of 64, and advanced to sectional qualifying. His third place finish on the 2004 money list earned him promotion to the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.
In Imada's first season at the elite level, he had a best placing of fifth and earned enough money to retain his tour card for 2006. In the 2006 U.S. Open, he fired closing rounds of 69-71 to finish in a tie for 12th. His 69 in round three was one of only six under par rounds during a brutal weekend at Winged Foot.
In 2007, Imada had his best finish on the PGA Tour, finishing in 2nd place at the AT&T Classic
AT&T Classic
The AT&T Champions Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1990 to 2009. It was played annually in March in Valencia, California at the Valencia Country Club. AT&T is the main sponsor of the tournament....
, winning $583,200. In 2008, Imada again finished in 2nd place at the Buick Invitational
Buick Invitational
The Farmers Insurance Open is a PGA Tour professional golf tournament played in the San Diego, California area in the early part of the Tour season, known as the "West Coast Swing." The tournament was noted for having singer-actor Andy Williams as a celebrity host from 1968 to 1988. The tournament...
, moving him into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
. In May 2008 he won his first PGA Tour tournament at the AT&T Classic
AT&T Classic
The AT&T Champions Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1990 to 2009. It was played annually in March in Valencia, California at the Valencia Country Club. AT&T is the main sponsor of the tournament....
, beating Kenny Perry
Kenny Perry
James Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:...
in a playoff, and reached the top 50 of the world rankings for the first time.
PGA Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 May 2008 2008 PGA Tour The 2008 PGA Tour season ran from January 3 to November 9. The season consisted of 49 official money events. This included four major championships and three World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the European Tour. There were also five unofficial events played in November and... |
AT&T Classic AT&T Classic The AT&T Champions Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1990 to 2009. It was played annually in March in Valencia, California at the Valencia Country Club. AT&T is the main sponsor of the tournament.... |
Playoff |  Kenny PerryKenny Perry James Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:... |
Nationwide Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 May 2000 2000 Buy.com Tour The 2000 Buy.com Tour season ran from February 3 to October 29. The season consisted of 30 official money golf tournaments, of which 29 were played in the United States The top 15 players on the year-end money list earned their PGA Tour card for 2001.... |
BUY.COM Virginia Beach Open | 5 strokes | Todd Demsey Todd Demsey Todd Demsey is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and 1993 NCAA champion.-College career:Demsey was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He graduated from Arizona State University in 1995 with a degree in Psychology and turned professional... |
|
| 2 | 2 May 2004 2004 Nationwide Tour The 2004 Nationwide Tour season ran from February 5 to October 31. The season consisted of 31 official money golf tournaments; five of which were played outside of the United States... |
BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs The BMW Charity Pro-Am is a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour. It is played at Thornblade Club in Greer, South Carolina, The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Bright's Creek Golf Club in Mill Spring, North Carolina.... |
Playoff |  Paul GowPaul Gow Paul Gow is an Australian professional golfer who currently plays on the Nationwide Tour.Gow was born in Sydney, Australia. He turned professional in 1993.... |
PGA Tour playoff record (1-1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007 | AT&T Classic AT&T Classic The AT&T Champions Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1990 to 2009. It was played annually in March in Valencia, California at the Valencia Country Club. AT&T is the main sponsor of the tournament.... |
Zach Johnson Zach Johnson Zach Johnson is an American golfer, winner of the 2007 Masters Tournament.Zach Johnson may also refer to:* Zack "Jick" Johnson, one of the creators of Kingdom of Loathing* Zachary Johnson, former drummer for The Fray... |
Lost to Johnson with par on first extra hole |
| 2 | 2008 | AT&T Classic AT&T Classic The AT&T Champions Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1990 to 2009. It was played annually in March in Valencia, California at the Valencia Country Club. AT&T is the main sponsor of the tournament.... |
Kenny Perry Kenny Perry James Kenneth Perry is an American professional golfer who currently plays on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, for which he became eligible following his 50th birthday.-Early years:... |
Defeated Perry with par on first extra hole |
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T20 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T15 | T12 | CUT | T18 | CUT |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | 64 |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | CUT | CUT |
| Tournament | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | CUT |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Team appearances
- World Cup (representing Japan): 20082008 Omega Mission Hills World CupThe 2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup took place from November 27 to November 30 at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. It was the 54th World Cup. 28 countries competed and each country sent two players. The team purse was $5,000,000 with $1,600,000 going to the winner. The Swedish team of...
, 20092009 Omega Mission Hills World CupThe 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup took place from November 26 to November 29 at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. It was the 55th World Cup. 28 countries competed as two player teams...