Japanese golfer Jumbo Ozaki first accepted, then...

Japanese golfer Jumbo Ozaki first accepted, then declined under pressure an invitation to play in the Masters tournament after it was reported in Japanese newspapers that he allegedly associated with underworld figures.

Ozaki, who competed in the Los Angeles Open last week, was not included on the list of foreign invitees released by the Masters last month.

Shortly after Ozaki accepted the tournament’s invitation last December, several nationally circulated Japanese newspapers published reports that the golfer was a known associate of members of Ingawa-Kai, identified as an organized crime group.

Masters officials were informed of the situation and were visited by Japanese golf officials.

“We let it be known,” Hord Hardin, chairman of the Masters, said, “that under the circumstances, we regretted issuing the invitation.”

Ozaki went into seclusion and later issued a public apology, saying: “I deeply regret what I have done.”

Some time later, Hardin said, Ozaki declined the invitation.

Ozaki has been publicly censured by the Japanese PGA.