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.

Early life

Smith was born in Carnoustie, Scotland, on 28 January 1874, the son of John D. Smith and Joann Smith (née Robinson). 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.

His brother Willie Smith won the U.S. Open in 1899.

Professional career

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

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

He was the head professional at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.

Personal life

thumb|right|200 px|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.

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

Professional wins (8)

:Note: This list may be incomplete

PGA Tour wins (3)

1903 Western Open
1906 U.S. Open, Western Open

Source:

Other wins (5)

1905 Metropolitan Open
1909 Metropolitan Open
1910 U.S. Open, Metropolitan Open
1913 Metropolitan Open

Note: major championships in bold

Major championships

thumb|300px|Alex Smith (right) with Willie Anderson

Wins (2)

{|class="wikitable"

!Year!!Championship!!54 Holes!!Winning score!!Margin!!Runner(s)-up

|-style="background:#FBCEB1;"

|1906 || U.S. Open ||3 shot lead ||(73-74-73-75=295) ||7 strokes || Willie Smith

|-style="background:#FBCEB1;"

|1910 ||U.S. Open (2) ||2 shot deficit ||+6 (73-73-79-73=298) ||Playoff1 || John McDermott, 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.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1898

!1899

!1900

!1901

!1902

!1903

!1904

!1905

!1906

!1907

!1908

!1909

|align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|style="background:yellow;"|7

|13

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|T18

|style="background:yellow;"|4

|18

|style="background:yellow;"|2

|style="background:#00ff00;"|1

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|3

|align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T16

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T25

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!1910

!1911

!1912

!1913

!1914

!1915

!1916

!1917

!1918

!1919

!1920

!1921

|align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#00ff00;"|1

|T23

|style="background:yellow;"|T3

|T16

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T22

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|WD

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|T5

|align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NYF

|style="background:yellow;"|R16

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

NYF = Tournament not yet founded

NT = No tournament

WD = Withdrew

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

France–United States Professional Match (representing the United States): 1913

References

External links

Wawashkamo Golf Club Scottish Links Course designed by Alex Smith on Mackinac Island, Michigan
Article on early Scottish golfers in the U.S. (including the Smith brothers)