Arthur Jonathan Wall Jr. (November 25, 1923 – October 31, 2001) 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 (including casual rounds), 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) LegendMajor championships (1)Other PGA Tour (13) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Aug 17, 1953Fort Wayne Open66-66-68-65=265−23Playoff Cary Middlecoff2Apr 25, 1954Tournament of Champions69-66-70-73=278−106 strokes Al Besselink, Lloyd Mangrum3Sep 16, 1956Fort Wayne Open (2)70-64-70-65=269−19Playoff Gardner Dickinson, Bill Trombley4Mar 10, 1957Pensacola Open70-68-69-66=273−152 strokes Peter Thomson5Jul 6, 1958Rubber City Open Invitational65-67-68-69=269−15Playoff Dow Finsterwald6Jul 27, 1958Eastern Open Invitational69-69-71-67=276−12Playoff Jack Burke Jr., Bob Rosburg7Jan 18, 1959Bing Crosby National Pro-Am69-65-70-75=279−92 strokes Jimmy Demaret, Gene Littler8Mar 30, 1959Azalea Open Invitational72-66-71-73=282−63 strokes Mike Souchak9Apr 5, 1959Masters Tournament73-74-71-66=284−41 stroke Cary Middlecoff10Jul 6, 1959Buick Open Invitational71-67-72-72=282−6Playoff Dow Finsterwald11Jul 9, 1960Canadian Open66-67-67-69=269−196 strokes Bob Goalby, Jay Hebert12Jan 12, 1964San Diego Open Invitational71-65-68-70=274−62 strokes Tony Lema, Bob Rosburg13Aug 21, 1966Insurance City Open Invitational65-64-69-68=266−182 strokes Wes Ellis14Jul 5, 1975Greater Milwaukee Open67-67-67-70=271−171 stroke Gary McCord
PGA Tour playoff record (5–5) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11953Greater Greensboro Open Doug Ford, Sam Snead, Earl StewartStewart won with par on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;Stewart: −2 (68),Snead: −2 (68),Ford: E (70),Wall: +2 (72)21953Fort Wayne Open Cary MiddlecoffWon 18-hole playoff;Wall: −2 (70),Middlecoff: E (72)31956Fort Wayne Open Gardner Dickinson, Bill TrombleyWon with birdie on first extra hole41958Rubber City Open Invitational Dow FinsterwaldWon with birdie on second extra hole51958Eastern Open Invitational Jack Burke Jr., Bob RosburgWon with birdie on first extra hole61959Buick Open Invitational Dow FinsterwaldWon 18-hole playoff;Wall: −1 (71),Finsterwald: +1 (73)71960Western Open Stan LeonardLost to birdie on first extra hole81962Insurance City Open Invitational Bob GoalbyLost to birdie on seventh extra hole91967Canadian Open Billy CasperLost 18-hole playoff;Casper: −6 (65),Wall: −2 (69)101971Canadian Open Lee TrevinoLost to birdie on first extra hole
Caribbean Tour wins (7) 1963 Caracas Open 1964 Maracaibo Open Invitational, Puerto Rico Open, Los Lagartos Open 1965 Panama Open, Maracaibo Open Invitational 1966 Maracaibo Open Invitational
Latin American wins (3) 1964 Ciudad Barranquilla Open, Mexican Open 1966 Caracas Open
Other wins (5) 1956 Philadelphia PGA Championship 1962 Philadelphia PGA Championship 1963 Philadelphia PGA Championship 1965 Philadelphia PGA Championship 1971 Philadelphia PGA Championship
Other senior wins (2) 1980 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Tommy Bolt) 1996 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Doug Ford)
Major championships
Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1959 Masters Tournament 6 shot deficit −4 (73-74-71-66=284) 1 stroke Cary Middlecoff
Results timeline Tournament19521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT34CUTT61U.S. Open47T26CUTT16CUTCUTWDPGA ChampionshipR32R64T11T25
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentWDCUTT21CUTT45CUTT49T22T40U.S. OpenT43T11T40T9T50PGA ChampionshipT39T5T23T858CUT
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentCUTT27CUTT37T37T15T28T35CUTCUTU.S. OpenCUTT45PGA ChampionshipT24T50CUT
Tournament198019811982198319841985198619871988Masters Tournament51CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTU.S. OpenPGA 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 Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 1 0 0 1 2 5 31 15U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 1 3 14 9The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PGA Championship 0 0 0 1 2 7 13 11Totals 1 0 0 2 5 15 58 35 Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1972 PGA – 1976 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (five times)
U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1957, 1959 (winners), 1961 (winners)
References
External links
Duke University Athletics Hall of Fame – Art Wall Jr. GolfCompendium.com – Art Wall Trenham Golf History – Art Wall Jr.