It’s not uncommon for many pro golfers to skip events the week before a major. For others, it’s never an issue teeing it up with a major championship approaching. In fact, many say they like to play the week before to get in some final prep.
But how often do players follow a win on the PGA Tour with another victory on a much bigger stage?
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It’s only happened four times ever and only twice since 1960. The most recent back-to-back of this feat occurred nearly 20 years ago.
Special thanks to stats guru @JustinRayGolf for the info.
Ralph Guldahl, 1939
Ralph Guldahl won the 1937 and 1938 U.S. Opens as well as the 1939 Masters. It was in 1939 that Guldahl won in Greensboro before heading to Augusta to claim the green jacket. Guldahl finished second each of the two years prior, finishing behind Byron Nelson and then Henry Picard. In 1939, Guldahl shot 3-under 33 on the final nine holes to win by a stroke. His 72-hole total of 279 would not be bested until 1953.
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Art Wall Jr., 1959
Art Wall, Jr., and Arnold Palmer at the presentation ceremony after the 1960 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 1960 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Augusta National/Getty Images)
Art Wall Jr. went into the Masters fresh off a victory in the 1959 Azalea Open. He then went on to win at Augusta. Wall started the final round six shots back but birdied five of the last six holes to claim the green jacket. Fun side note: This was the only Masters victory during the years of 1958 to 1966 not by one of the members of the Big Three: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
Sandy Lyle, 1988
It took someone 20 years to repeat Ralph Guldahl’s feat. It was then 29 years after that for a third golfer to turn the trick. In 1988, after a double bogey on the famed 12th hole, things weren’t looking good for Sandy Lyle to join the group. He also failed to birdie either of the back-nine par 5s that day. But on 18, Lyle, who won at Greensboro the week before, flushed a 7-iron out of the deep fairway bunker to set up a birdie that made him the first Masters champ from the U.K.
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Phil Mickelson in 2006
Phil Mickelson and his family celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2026 BellSouth Classic at TPC Sugarloaf.
Phil Mickelson won the 2006 BellSouth Classic in which he finished with a 28-under 260 to set a tournament record and personal best. It was also one stroke shy of the best 72-hole total for a par-72 course in PGA Tour history. Mickelson then drove two hours east to Augusta, where he earned his second Masters victory and his third major title in his previous nine opportunities. It was also his second major in a row after winning the PGA Championship eight months prior. Before winning the 2004 Masters, Mickelson had been winless in 46 majors. “Three of nine. That sounds better, doesn’t it?” he said.
The Augusta Chronicle contributed this article.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA Tour winners who won the Masters one week later
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