Who's who: Alex Smith

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Alex Smith

  • Name:

    Alex Smith
  • Country:

    Scotland
  • Lived:

    [1874-1930]. Born on Jan 28, 1874 in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland. Died on April 21, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland (aged 56).
  • Original/Home Club:

    Carnoustie
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer and club pro.
  • Turned Pro:

    c.1890

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2): US Open (1906, 1910)

Golf course design

After the death of his Mexico-based brother Willie Smith, Alex took over responsibility for the design of the renowned Chapultepec GC in Mexico.

Did you know?

"Alex" Smith (b.1874) and his five younger brothers, were part of a large golfing family from Barry, a small village next to Carnoustie. Alex, and younger brothers Willie (b.1876) and "Mac" (b.1890) all migrated to the USA as young men, eager to pursue the more lucrative golfing opportunities that lay "across the pond".

Alex won the US Open in 1906 and 1910, while brother Willie claimed that title in 1899. Brothers John, George, Jim and Macdonald "Mac" Smith were also excellent golfers. The youngest of the "clan", "Mac" Smith, missed out on major championship honours, but he eventually recorded many more American professional circuit wins than his brothers.

Top tournaments won by Alex Smith

1913
America
Salisbury GC
291
$150
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Venue

Salisbury GC

Score

291

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (Aug 13/14). Second-placed Tom McNamara (USA) finished 1 shot behind Alex Smith (Scot), who recorded the last of his four wins in this event. [Salisbury GC, Westbury, Long Island, NY. Although Salisbury GC no longer exists, the Championship course is largely preserved as the Red course, Eisenhower Park GC].

1910
Majors
Philadelphia Cricket Club
298
$300
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Venue

Philadelphia Cricket Club

Score

298

Prize money

$300

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (16th) (June 17-20). Alex Smith (Scot) beat Johnny McDermott (USA) and Macdonald "Mac" Smith (Scot) in an 18-hole playoff (A. Smith 71, McDermott 75, M. Smith 77). Alex and Macdonald were brothers, originally from Carnoustie, Scotland. [St Martin's course, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia, PA. Original 18-hole course now reduced to 9-holes].

1910
America
Deal G&CC, NJ
301
$150
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Venue

Deal G&CC, NJ

Score

301

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (Aug 25/26). Second-placed Johnny McDermott (USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Alex Smith (Scot/USA). [Deal G&CC, Deal, New Jersey].

1909
America
306
$150
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Venue

Wykagyl

Score

306

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (Sept 16/17). Second-placed Gilbert Nicholls (Eng/USA) finished 2 shots behind Wykagyl's home professional Alex Smith (Scot/USA). [Wykagyl CC, New Rochelle, New York].

1906
Majors
Onwentsia
295
$300
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Venue

Onwentsia

Score

295

Prize money

$300

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (12th) (June 28/29). Second-placed Willie Smith (Scot) finished 7 shots behind his older brother Alex Smith (Scot). [Onwentsia Club, Lake Forest, Illinois].

1906
America
Flossmoor CC
306
$150
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Venue

Flossmoor CC

Score

306

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (June 21/22). Second-placed Jack Hobens (Scot/USA) finished 3 shots behind Alex Smith (Scot/USA). [Homewood CC, Flossmoor, IL. Now called Flossmoor CC].

1905
America
Fox Hills GC, NY
300
$150
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Venue

Fox Hills GC, NY

Score

300

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the inaugural Metropolitan Open (Sept 14-16). Alex Smith (Scot/USA) beat Willie Anderson (Scot) in an 18-hole Saturday playoff (Smith 74, Anderson 76). [Fox Hills GC, Clifton, Staten Island, NYC; club and course closed in 1935]. Note: organised by the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA), the "Met Open" was considered a "major" championship in its early years. It is the USA's third oldest "Open" championship, behind the US Open (1895) and Western Open (1899). The MGA covered New York City and surrounding districts including northern New Jersey and southwestern Connecticut.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Alex

Score

318

Prize money

$150

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (July 16/17). Second-placed Laurie Auchterlonie (Scot) and David Brown (Scot) finished 2 shots behind wire-to-wire winner Alex Smith (Scot). [Milwaukee CC, River Hills, nr Milwaukee, Wisconsin].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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