Art Wall, 1959: Jones compliment caps Masters win

It was kind of weird how things happened when I won the 1959 Masters.

It was Sunday, and I was on the 13th tee, right in the thick of things. Bobby Jones was driven out there by a member and said he was told I was a good young player and to come out and watch me play a few holes. He said he understood I was a very good putter. I was playing with Julius Boros, and we all talked for a moment then went about our business of playing.

Well, from that point on I birdied five of the last six holes to win. I completely forgot that Mr. Jones was out there taking a look. Just how much he followed me I don't know. I appreciated that he came out to speak to me, but I'm embarrassed that I didn't acknowledge it like I maybe should have.

But I'm very aware of what he told me at the awards ceremony afterward. He said, "Everything I've heard about you is true and then some." I do remember that.

In those days, the leaders didn't go off last in order. Arnold Palmer and Stan Leonard were tied for the lead after three rounds, at 4-under par, six strokes ahead of me. But Palmer teed off an hour before I did, and Leonard and eventual runner-up Cary Middlecoff went off an hour after I did. So it was difficult to figure out how I stood.

My finish was quite remarkable. I two-putted 13 for birdie, sank it from about 20 feet from the back fringe on 14 for birdie, lipped out for eagle from 20 feet on 15 and tapped in for birdie, parred 16 with a safe two-putt, made a 20-footer for birdie on 17 and then won it with a 10-footer for birdie on 18. I came home in 32, shot 66 and beat Middlecoff by one.

The win was obviously the highlight of my golf career ? even though I won 14 times ? and always will be. A lot of good things happened to me as a result. I was quoted at that time as saying I caught lightning in a bottle. I never had a run like that in a major tournament.

Even today I'm getting re-quests for autographs ? so many I don't know what's going on. It's mind-boggling. Back when I won, there weren't too many autograph requests. In the past five years it's increased; I can't imagine what other people are going through. When I was in Arizona in February visiting friends, one told me I was on the Internet. They are selling my autograph on the Internet. I didn't have a clue.

I'm 76 now and play a handful of Senior Tour events for players over age 70. I'll still come down to Augusta for three days, arriving on Sunday and leaving late Wednesday morning. I really enjoy the Champions Dinner and love to walk the course and sit at the driving range.

I haven't played there in more than 10 years, but the last time was quite a thrill for me. My oldest son, Gregory, wanted to caddie for me, so I gave it one last shot in 1988. I shot 86 in the first round but then came back Friday to finish strong. I hit driver, 7-wood into 18 and Gregory said, "Dad, if you two-putt, you'll break 80." Well, I two-putted to shoot 79 ? no big deal there ? but doing it with my son was quite a thrill.