Art Wall Jr.


Arthur Jonathan Wall Jr. was an American professional golfer, best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 1959.

Early life and amateur career

Wall was born and raised in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He and his younger brother "Dewey" caddied for their parents, starting around age ten, and began playing shortly after. The brothers served in the military during World War II. Art served in the Army Air Forces and Dewey in the Navy. Dewey was killed at the age of 20 in October 1944 when his submarine USS Shark was sunk in the Pacific Ocean near Taiwan.
Wall won the Pennsylvania Amateur in 1947 and 1949. He attended Duke University and graduated in 1949 with a business degree.

Professional career

Wall won 14 titles on the PGA Tour, including four in 1959. That year he was chosen as the PGA Player of the Year, and also won the money title and Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average. His most notable career achievement was his victory at the Masters. In the final round in 1959, he birdied five of his last six holes to shoot a 66 and overtake Cary Middlecoff and defending champion Arnold Palmer.
He was a member of three United States Ryder Cup teams: 1957, 1959, and 1961. Wall is also notable for sinking 45 holes-in-one in his playing career, a world record for many years.

Final win

Wall's final tour win came as a grandfather at age 51 years 7 months at the Greater Milwaukee Open in 1975, which was his first tour win in nine years.

Death

Wall died at the age of 77 from respiratory failure after a lengthy illness. He is buried at Glen Dyberry Cemetery in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

Amateur wins

  • 1947 Pennsylvania Amateur
  • 1949 Pennsylvania Amateur

    Professional wins (31)

PGA Tour wins (14)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Aug 17, 1953Fort Wayne Open66-66-68-65=265−23Playoff

Caribbean Tour wins (7)

Wins (1)

Results timeline

Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
Masters TournamentWDCUTT21CUTT45CUTT49T22T40
U.S. OpenT43T11T40T9T50
PGA ChampionshipT39T5T23T858CUT

Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
Masters TournamentCUTT27CUTT37T37T15T28T35CUTCUT
U.S. OpenCUTT45
PGA ChampionshipT24T50CUT

Tournament198019811982198319841985198619871988
Masters Tournament51CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUT
U.S. Open
PGA Championship

Note: Wall never played in The Open Championship.

CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play

"T" = tied

Summary

  • Most consecutive cuts made – 7
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 1

    U.S. national team appearances

Professional
  • Ryder Cup: 1957, 1959, 1961