| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 3–6, 1958 |
| Location | Augusta, Georgia 33°30′11″N 82°01′12″W / 33.503°N 82.020°W |
| Course(s) | Augusta National Golf Club |
| Organized by | Augusta National Golf Club |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,980 yards (6,383 m)[1] |
| Field | 86 players, 43 after cut |
| Cut | 149 (+5) |
| Prize fund | $60,050[1] |
| Winner's share | $11,250 |
| Champion | |
 Arnold Palmer | |
| 284 (−4) | |
| Location map | |
  Augusta National Location in the United States  Augusta National Location in Georgia | |
The 1958 Masters Tournament was the 22nd Masters Tournament, held April 3–6 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Arnold Palmer won the first of his four Masters titles, one stroke ahead of runners-up Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins. It was the first of his seven major titles.
Palmer, age 28, was the third round co-leader and eagled the 13th hole on Sunday to propel him to victory, as he three-putted on the final green.[1][2] Three-time champion Sam Snead, age 45, was the other co-leader after 54 holes,[3] but shot a 79 (+7) on Sunday to fall to 13th place.[4] One stroke back entering the final round was 1955 champion Cary Middlecoff, who carded a 75 in the final round and tied for 6th.
Palmer's first Masters victory was not without some controversy. On the 12th hole of the final round, Palmer thought his tee ball was embedded behind the green but the on-site rules official would not give him relief. Playing that ball as it lay, Palmer made a double-bogey. Upset over the questionable ruling and the double-bogey, Palmer then played a second ball from behind the green and, after taking relief, made a par. Several holes later word came from the tournament officials that Palmer was entitled to relief and his par score on 12 would stand.[5]
Prior to the tournament, two stone arch bridges crossing Rae's Creek were dedicated, honoring two-time champions Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. Hogan's is at the par-3 12th hole, and commemorated his record 72-hole score in 1953, his second win at Augusta and first of three consecutive majors that year. The other bridge departs the 13th tee; Nelson went birdie-eagle at these two holes in the final round in 1937, gained six strokes on the leader, and won the first of his five majors.[6]
Sports Illustrated writer Herbert Warren Wind first used the term "Amen Corner" in a story to describe where the critical final day's action had occurred.[7]
This was the first major to have a five-figure winner's share; six figures arrived at the 1983 PGA Championship and seven at the 2001 Masters.
- ^ a b c "Palmer snatches Masters victory". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. April 7, 1958. p. 8.
- ^ Gendelfinger, Phil (April 7, 1958). "Arnie Palmer wins Masters by one stroke". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 22.
- ^ Bartlett, Charles (April 6, 1958). "Snead, Palmer lead Masters with 211". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ Bartlett, Charles (April 7, 1958). "Official ruling gives Palmer Masters". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 4.
- ^ Harig, Bob (April 5, 2008). "50 years later, Palmer's first Masters win still remains controversial". ESPN. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ "Augusta club honors Nelson and Hogan". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. April 3, 1958. p. 8.
- ^ Wind, Herbert Warren (April 21, 1958). "The fateful corner". Sports Illustrated. p. 48.