Horton Smith (May 22, 1908 – October 15, 1963) was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
golfGolf is a precision club-and-ball sport, in which competing players , using many types of clubs, attempt to hit balls into each hole on a golf course while employing the fewest number of strokes. Golf is one of the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing area...
er, who is best known as the first man to win the Masters Tournament.
Smith was born in
Springfield, MissouriSpringfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the county seat of Greene County. On July 1, 2008, the estimated population was 156,206. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 426,144, is ranked 114th in the U.S., includes the counties of Christian, Dallas,...
and died in
Detroit, MichiganDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
of Hodgkin's Disease.
Smith's turned professional in 1926 and won his first tournament, the Oklahoma City Open in 1928. In 1929 he won eight titles. This was an era of expansion and reorganisation for professional golf.
Horton Smith (May 22, 1908 – October 15, 1963) was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
golfGolf is a precision club-and-ball sport, in which competing players , using many types of clubs, attempt to hit balls into each hole on a golf course while employing the fewest number of strokes. Golf is one of the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing area...
er, who is best known as the first man to win the Masters Tournament.
Smith was born in
Springfield, MissouriSpringfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the county seat of Greene County. On July 1, 2008, the estimated population was 156,206. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 426,144, is ranked 114th in the U.S., includes the counties of Christian, Dallas,...
and died in
Detroit, MichiganDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
of Hodgkin's Disease.
Tournament career
Smith's turned professional in 1926 and won his first tournament, the Oklahoma City Open in 1928. In 1929 he won eight titles. This was an era of expansion and reorganisation for professional golf. The
PGA TourThe PGA Tour is an organization that operates the main professional golf tours in the United States. It is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville...
was founded in 1934, and Smith was one of the leading players of the early years of the tour, topping the money list in 1936. He accumulated 32
PGA TourThe PGA Tour is an organization that operates the main professional golf tours in the United States. It is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville...
titles in total, the last of them in 1941. Smith's two
major championshipsThe men's major golf championships, often referred to simply as "the majors", are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf. In order of their playing date, the current majors are:...
both came at the Masters Tournament, the first at the inaugural tournament in 1934 and the second in 1936. He played in every Masters until his death in 1963. He played for the United States in the
Ryder CupThe Ryder Cup is a golf trophy, donated by Samuel Ryder, which is awarded biennially in an event called the "Ryder Cup Matches" between teams from Europe and the United States...
five times: 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, and 1937.
Miscellaneous
- Served as the club pro at Detroit Golf Club (Detroit, Michigan) for several years following his professional career.
- Rated as the finest chipper and putter of his era by Byron Nelson
John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.He and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within 6 months of each other in 1912...
. Co-author of a 1961 book, The Secret of Holing Puts.
- Smith was the last man to defeat Bobby Jones
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was one of the greatest golfers to compete on a national and international level. He participated only as an amateur, primarily on a part-time basis, and chose to retire from competition at age 28.Explaining his decision to retire, Jones said, "It is something like a...
before Jones retired in 1930.
- According to the World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located in St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of Fame Museum Building is...
Smith was the first man to use a sand wedgeA sand wedge, or sand iron, is a type of golf club primarily designed for use out of sand bunkers. It has the widest sole of any wedge, which provides the greatest amount of "bounce", allowing the clubhead to glide through sand and avoid digging in....
, although the concave wedge he invented was later banned by the USGAThe United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
and superseded by a style introduced by Gene SarazenGene Sarazen was an American professional golfer. He is one of five golfers to win all the current major championships in his career, the Career Grand Slam:U.S...
.
- Smith was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located in St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of Fame Museum Building is...
in 1990.
- President of the Professional Golfers' Association of America
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers Association of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and is the largest working sports organization in the world, with more than 28,000 men and women golf professional members...
1952-1954
- In 1962, he was voted the Bob Jones Award
The Bob Jones Award is the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. It is named in honor of Bobby Jones.-External links:*...
, the highest honor given by the United States Golf AssociationThe United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.
- The PGA of America annually grants the Horton Smith Award to a PGA professional who has made "outstanding and continuing contributions to PGA education."
- Has a golf course named after him in his birthplace city of Springfield, Missouri.
PGA Tour wins (32)
- 1928 (2) Oklahoma City Open, Catalina Island Open
- 1929 (8) Berkeley Open Championship, Pensacola Open Invitational, Florida Open
The Florida Open is the Florida state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is now organized by the Florida State Golf Association . It has been played annually since 1942 at a variety of courses around the state...
, La Gorce Open, Fort Myers Open, North and South OpenThe North and South Open was one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century. It was played at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, long the largest golf resort in the world, which also staged a series of other tournaments with the "North...
, Oregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state...
, Pasadena Open
- 1930 (4) Central Florida Open, Savannah Open, Berkeley Open, Bay District Open
- 1931 (1) St. Paul Open
- 1932 (1) National Capital City Open
- 1933 (1) Miami International Four-Ball
The Miami International Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1954. It was played primarily at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida...
(with Paul RunyanPaul Scott Runyan . Fellow golfers nicknamed him "Little Poison,", primarily because he didn't drive the ball very far but also had a terrific short game. Additionally, Runyan was small in stature furthering the "Little Poison" moniker...
)
- 1934 (3) The Masters
The Masters Tournament, also known as The Masters, or The U.S. Masters outside of the United States, is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year...
, Grand Slam Open, California Open
- 1935 (3) Palm Springs Invitational, Miami Biltmore Open, Pasadena Open
- 1936 (2) The Masters
The Masters Tournament, also known as The Masters, or The U.S. Masters outside of the United States, is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year...
, Victoria Open
- 1937 (3) North and South Open
The North and South Open was one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century. It was played at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, long the largest golf resort in the world, which also staged a series of other tournaments with the "North...
, Inverness Invitational Four-BallThe Inverness Invitational Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1935 to 1953. It was played at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.-Format:...
(with Harry CooperHarry E. Cooper was a prominent PGA Tour golfer of the 1920s and 1930s.Cooper was born in the town of Leatherhead, England. His father was a professional golfer who had served as an apprentice to Old Tom Morris at St. Andrews...
), Oklahoma Four-Ball (with Harry CooperHarry E. Cooper was a prominent PGA Tour golfer of the 1920s and 1930s.Cooper was born in the town of Leatherhead, England. His father was a professional golfer who had served as an apprentice to Old Tom Morris at St. Andrews...
)
- 1941 (2) Florida West Coast Open, St. Paul Open
(
missing two wins)
Major championshipsThe men's major golf championships, often referred to simply as "the majors", are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf. In order of their playing date, the current majors are:...
are shown in
bold.
Source:
Other wins
this list is probably incomplete
- 1940 Massachusetts Open
The Massachusetts Open is the Massachusetts state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Massachusetts Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1905 at a variety of courses around the state. It was considered a PGA Tour event from...
- 1948 Michigan PGA Championship
The Michigan PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is the section championship of the Michigan section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1922 at a variety of courses around the state.-Winners:*2009 Scott Hebert*2008 Scott Hebert...
Wins (2)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|
| 1934 The 1934 Masters Tournament was contested from March 22 to March 25 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 1st Masters Tournament. Horton Smith won the event. Smith sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole for a victory over Craig Wood. The purse was $5,000.-First round:-Final...
|
The Masters |
1 shot lead |
| 1 stroke |
USA Craig Wood Craig Ralph Wood was an American professional golfer in the 1930s and 1940s, the winner of 21 PGA Tour titles including two major championships and a member of three Ryder Cup teams ....
|
| 1936 The 1936 Masters Tournament was contested from April 3 to April 6 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 3rd Masters Tournament. The purse was $5,000.Due to adverse weather conditions, the first round of play was postponed until Friday...
|
The Masters (2) |
3 shot deficit |
| 1 stroke |
USA Harry Cooper Harry E. Cooper was a prominent PGA Tour golfer of the 1920s and 1930s.Cooper was born in the town of Leatherhead, England. His father was a professional golfer who had served as an apprentice to Old Tom Morris at St. Andrews...
|
Results timeline
| Tournament |
1927 |
1928 |
1929 |
| The Masters |
NYF |
NYF |
NYF |
U.S. OpenThe United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
|
T44 |
T28 |
10 |
The Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only major held outside the USA and is administered by the R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
|
DNP |
DNP |
T24 |
PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour...
|
DNP |
SF |
R32 |
| Tournament |
1930 |
1931 |
1932 |
1933 |
1934 |
1935 |
1936 |
1937 |
1938 |
1939 |
| The Masters |
NYF |
NYF |
NYF |
NYF |
1 |
T19 |
1 |
T19 |
T22 |
T26 |
U.S. OpenThe United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
|
3 |
T27 |
T55 |
T24 |
T17 |
T6 |
T22 |
T36 |
T19 |
15 |
The Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only major held outside the USA and is administered by the R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
|
T4 |
T12 |
DNP |
T12 |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
10 |
DNP |
DNP |
PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour...
|
QF |
QF |
R32 |
R32 |
DNP |
QF |
QF |
R16 |
QF |
QF |
| Tournament |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
1946 |
1947 |
1948 |
1949 |
| The Masters |
T47 |
T19 |
5 |
NT |
NT |
NT |
T21 |
T22 |
34 |
T23 |
U.S. OpenThe United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
|
3 |
T13 |
NT |
NT |
NT |
NT |
CUT |
WD |
CUT |
T23 |
The Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only major held outside the USA and is administered by the R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
|
NT |
NT |
NT |
NT |
NT |
NT |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour...
|
R64 |
R16 |
DNP |
NT |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
R64 |
R32 |
| Tournament |
1950 |
1951 |
1952 |
1953 |
1954 |
1955 |
1956 |
1957 |
1958 |
1959 |
| The Masters |
T12 |
T32 |
T30 |
T46 |
T38 |
T59 |
76 |
CUT |
CUT |
CUT |
U.S. OpenThe United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
|
CUT |
CUT |
T15 |
CUT |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
The Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only major held outside the USA and is administered by the R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
|
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour...
|
DNP |
DNP |
R64 |
DNP |
R16 |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
| Tournament |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
| The Masters |
CUT |
CUT |
CUT |
CUT |
U.S. OpenThe United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
|
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
The Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only major held outside the USA and is administered by the R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
|
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour...
|
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF, F = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
External links