is a U.S.-based Japanese professional golfer.
Early life and amateur career Imada was born in Mihara, Hiroshima. 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.1999 NCAA Men's Golf Team Championship, summary posted at "1999 National Championship", georgiadogs.com, 8 September 2007
Professional career In 1999, Imada turned professional. 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 and 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.Week 20 – Richard Finch Wins the Irish Open and Jumps to World Number 134
Imada was unable to follow up his win and split his time among the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, and Japan Golf Tour.
Amateur wins this list may be incomplete 1995 Porter Cup, AJGA Tournament of Champions 1996 Azalea Invitational
Professional wins (3)
PGA Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up118 May 2008AT&T Classic−15 (71-69-66-67=273)Playoff Kenny Perry
PGA Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12007AT&T Classic Zach JohnsonLost to birdie on first extra hole22008AT&T Classic Kenny PerryWon with par on first extra hole
Nationwide Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up121 May 2000Buy.com Virginia Beach Open−13 (71-68-68-68=275)5 strokes Todd Demsey22 May 2004BMW Charity Pro-Am−17 (70-66-65-69=270)Playoff Paul Gow
Nationwide Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12004BMW Charity Pro-Am Paul GowWon with birdie on fifth extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011Masters TournamentT20U.S. OpenCUTT15T12CUTT18CUTThe Open ChampionshipCUT64PGA ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
Results in The Players Championship Tournament2006200720082009201020112012The Players ChampionshipCUTT68CUTT45T39CUTCUT CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament20082009Match PlayChampionshipT34T40InvitationalChampions
"T" = Tied Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.
Team appearances World Cup (representing Japan): 2008, 2009
See also 2004 Nationwide Tour graduates
References
External links