Alex Smith (golfer)

Alexander Smith (28 January 1874 – 21 April 1930) was a Scottish-American professional golfer who played in the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a member of a famous Scottish golfing family. His brother Willie won the U.S. Open in 1899, and Alex won it in both 1906 and 1910. Like many British professionals of his era he spent much of his adult life working as a club professional in the United States.

For other people named Alex Smith, see Alex Smith (disambiguation).

Alex Smith
Smith, c. 1913
Personal information
Full nameAlexander Smith
Born(1874-01-28)28 January 1874
Dundee, Angus, Scotland
Died21 April 1930(1930-04-21) (aged 56)
Baltimore, Maryland
Sporting nationality Scotland
 United States
SpouseJessie Maiden
Children2
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins8
Best results in major championships
(wins: 2)
Masters TournamentNYF
PGA ChampionshipT9: 1916
U.S. OpenWon: 1906, 1910
The Open ChampionshipT16: 1905

Early life

Smith was born in Carnoustie, Scotland, on 28 January 1874, the son of John D. Smith and Joann Smith née Robinson.[1] On 18 January 1895 he was married to Jessie Maiden—sister of James Maiden—and they had two daughters, Fannie and Margaret, born in 1896 and 1899, respectively. Smith was sometimes referred to as "Alec" Smith, especially early in his career.[2][3][4]

Golf career

He was the head professional at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, New York, from 1901 through 1909.[5] James Maiden, who would forge a successful golf career of his own, served as assistant professional under Smith at Nassau.[5]

In 1901, Smith lost to Willie Anderson in a playoff for the U.S. Open title.[6] Smith's 1906 U.S. Open victory came at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Illinois. His 72-hole score of 295 was the lowest at either the U.S. Open or the British Open up to that time, and he won $300. The 1910 U.S. Open was played over the St. Martin's course at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Smith won a three-man playoff against American John McDermott and another of his own brothers, Macdonald Smith. Alex Smith played in eighteen U.S. Opens in total and accumulated eleven top ten placings.

Smith, who partnered with C. A. Dunning in the 1905 Metropolitan Open four-ball tournament held on 16 September 1905 at Fox Hills Golf Club on Staten Island, tied for first place with George Low and Fred Herreshoff with a score of 71. A playoff wasn't held due to the fact that Smith was also competing in the medal competition which he won from Willie Anderson.[7]

Smith also won the Western Open twice and the Metropolitan Open four times.

Later life
Alex Smith in 1906

In 1910, Smith was a widower and lived with his two young daughters and sister-in-law, Allison Barry, in New Rochelle, New York. He was the head professional at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.[8] After the death of his brother, Willie Smith, he took over responsibility for the design of Club de Golf Chapultepec, which has hosted the Mexican Open multiple times, and the WGC-Mexico Championship since 2017.[9][10]

Death and legacy

Smith died on 21 April 1930 at a sanatorium in Baltimore, Maryland.[8]

Tournament wins
Note: This list may be incomplete

Major championships
Alex Smith (right) with Willie Anderson

Wins (2)
YearChampionship54 HolesWinning ScoreMarginRunner(s)-up
1906U.S. Open3 shot lead(73-74-73-75=295)7 strokesScotland Willie Smith
1910U.S. Open (2)2 shot deficit+6 (73-73-79-73=298)Playoff1United States John McDermott, Scotland Macdonald Smith

1Defeated John McDermott and MacDonald Smith in an 18-hole playoff – A. Smith 71 (−2), McDermott 75 (+2) & M. Smith 77 (+4).

Results timeline

Smith died before the Masters Tournament was founded.

Tournament 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
U.S. Open 2 7 13 2 T18 4 18 2 1 DNP 3 3
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T16 DNP T25 DNP DNP
Tournament 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921
U.S. Open 1 T23 T3 T16 DNP T22 DNP NT NT WD DNP T5
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP NT NT NT NT NT DNP DNP
PGA Championship NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF R16 NT NT DNP DNP DNP

NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

Team appearances

References
  1. "Births in the District of St Clement in the Burgh of Dundee". Statutory Births 282/03 0134. ScotlandsPeople. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  2. Inkersley, Arthur (1909). "The Portola and Other Golf Tournaments".
  3. "Alec Smith Beaten in Open Championship Match". New York Daily Tribune. 18 June 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  4. "Pro Golfers Meet in Title Matches" (PDF). The New York Times. 11 October 1916. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  5. "History of Nassau Country Club". Nassaucc.com. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  6. "Alexander Smith and Willie Anderson Tied for the Open Championship at 331". No. p. 9. New York Tribune. Library of Congress. 16 June 1901. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  7. "Four Ball Match". New York Tribune. 17 September 1905. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  8. "Alex Smith golfer dies". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 22 April 1930. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  9. "Chapultepec - Mexico". Top 100 Golf Courses. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  10. Ralph, Pat (19 February 2019). "Five things to know about Club de Golf Chapultepec". Golf.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  11. "Smith's Golf Title". New York Tribune. 17 September 1905. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
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