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1959 Golf News and Highlights

Art Wall, Jr., was the leading money winner in professional golf in 1959, collecting $53,167. He won five major tournaments, including the Masters, and with an average of 70.35 strokes per round for 119 rounds, was also the Vardon Trophy leader; he was also voted the PGA Player-of-the-Year.

Betsy Rawls led the women's ranks with 10 tournament victories, winnings of $26,774 (both records), and a 74.03 average for 95 rounds that put her in second place in this category behind Louise Suggs, who had a 73.58 average for 76 rounds.

Ken Daly won the $35,000 Los Angeles Open on January 5.

Art Wall, Jr., won the Masters Tournament and a $15,000 prize at Augusta, Georgia, on April 4. Wall had gone into the final round six strokes behind Arnold Palmer and Stan Leonard, the co-leaders, but stormed back with a 66 that included five birdies in the last six holes, and ending with a four-round total of 284 and a one-stroke advantage over Cary Middlecoff, who as late as the 72nd hole had a chance for a tie.

Arnold Palmer won the Oklahoma City Open on May 11 with a total of 273.

The U.S. Walker Cup team beat the British team 9 to 3 at Muirfield, Scotland, on May 16.

Sam Snead garnered a place in the Guinness Book of World Records on May 16 when he shot a 59 in The Greenbrier Open at The Greenbrier Club in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

John Dawson shot a 143 total over 36 holes to win the U.S. Seniors' Championship in Rye, New York, on June 5, his second straight win in the tournament.

Bill Casper, Jr., won the U.S. Open and a $12,000 prize at Mamaroneck, New York, on June 14.

Judy Eller won the National Women's Collegiate Golf Championship on June 19 with a 3 and 2 victory over Julie Hull at Chapel Hill.

Mickey Wright retained the U.S. Women's Open Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 27.

Ken Venturi took home $9,000 for his win in the Chicago Open on June 28.

Gary Player won the British Open on July3, in Muirfield, Scotland.

Mike Souchak won the Western Golf Association Championship on July 12 at the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Field Club course with a 72-hole total of 272.

Robert R. Rosburg won the Professional Golfers Assocition of America Championship, August 2, on the Minneapolis (Minesota) Golf Club course with a 277 score for 72 holes.

Betsy Rawls won the Women's Western Open at Seattle, Washington, on August 16 with a 293 score.

The U.S. Amateur Championship was won by Jack Nicklaus in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on September 19.

The U.S. Senior Women's Golf Association Championship was won by Mrs. Harrison Flippin on September 30, for the fifth successive year.

The American team (Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Art Wall, Jr., Doug Ford, Mike Souchak, Dow Finsterwald, Cary Middlecoff, Julius Boros, Jay Hebert, and Jack Burke, Jr.) defeated the British team 8½ to 3½ in the Ryder Cup matches in Palm Desert, California, November 6-7.

Willie Goggin won the U.S. Senior Championship in Palm Springs, California, December 7, with a 284 score.


In the Year 1959

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This page was last updated on March 16, 2016.

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