Shigeki Maruyama
A charismatic Japanese golfer whose infectious smile and fearless play made him a fan favorite on the PGA Tour.
Born 1969 (age 57)·Japanese professional golfer·Birthday: September 12·Generation X
Biography
Shigeki Maruyama brought a jolt of joy to the often-stoic world of professional golf. Nicknamed 'The Smiling Assassin' for his broad, constant grin and competitive sharpness, he broke through as Japan's most successful male golfer on the American PGA Tour. His victory at the 2003 Greater Milwaukee Open was a landmark, making him only the second Japanese player to win a PGA Tour event in the United States. Maruyama's game was built on impeccable iron play and a wizard-like short game, but it was his palpable enjoyment of competition that endeared him to galleries. While major championship glory eluded him, he represented Japan in multiple Presidents Cups, often serving as the team's emotional heart, and remained a dominant force on the Japan Golf Tour long after his PGA Tour days.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Shigeki was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Shigeki Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Shigeki's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2003 Greater Milwaukee Open, becoming a rare Japanese winner on the PGA Tour.
- Represented the International Team in the Presidents Cup in 1998, 2000, and 2004.
- Has won over a dozen tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour.
- Shot a 58 during U.S. Open qualifying in 2000, a record-low score for a USGA event.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'The Smiling Assassin,' was coined by fellow professional John Daly.
He is known for his unique, slow-motion pre-shot routine.
He is an avid collector of vintage wristwatches.
“I smile because I am doing what I love, and I want to share that feeling.”
