Art Wall Jr. (1 Masters, 3 Ryder Cup's.)

1923 - 2001

Arthur Jonathan Wall Jr. (November 25, 1923 – October 31, 2001) was an American professional golfer.

Born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, Wall played collegiate golf at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina,[1] and graduated in 1949 with a business degree.

Wall won fourteen 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.[2] His most notable career achievement was his victory in 1959 at the Masters Tournament. In the final round, he birdied five of his last six holes to shoot a 66 and overtake Cary Middlecoff and defending champion Arnold Palmer.[1] He was a member of three United States Ryder Cup teams: 19571959, 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.[2][3]

Wall's final tour win came at age 51 at the Greater Milwaukee Open in 1975, his first tour win in nine years.[4][5] Since this win 42 years ago, no older player has won on tour; the closest was Fred Funk at age 50 in 2007. The oldest remains Sam Snead, who was nearly 53 in 1965 at his 82nd and final tour win at the Greater Greensboro Open.[6]

Wall died at age 77 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, of respiratory failure after a lengthy illness,[1] and is buried at Glen Dyberry Cemetery in Honesdale.