Who's who: Horton Smith

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
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  • 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: Horton Smith

  • Name:

    Horton Smith
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [1908-1963]. Born on May 22, 1908 in Springfield, Missouri. Died on Oct 15, 1963 in Detroit, Michigan (aged 55).
  • Original/Home Club:

    Springfield CC, Missouri and later Detroit GC.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; US PGA President.
  • Turned Pro:

    1926

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2): The Masters (1934, '36). Ryder Cup player (1929, '33, '35). Total professional wins (36), including PGA Tour (32). Leading PGA Tour Money Winner (1929, '36). President US PGA (1952-54). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1990).

Did you know?

Horton Smith was known on the PGA Tour as the "Missouri Rover" for his tireless travelling by car, train and even boat to get to tournaments. The reward for his travels were 36 professional wins, including two major championship titles and 32 PGA Tour titles. From 1952 to 1954 he served as President of the PGA of America.

Smith carries the distinction of being the first golfer to win a prestigious new golf tournament that was launched in 1934. It was created by the legendary amateur Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, it was held in Augusta and called ... the Masters Tournament. He won it again two years later in 1936.

Top tournaments won by Horton Smith

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Florida West Coast Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the St Paul Open.

1941
America
206
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

206

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Bellair Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Score

286 (-2)

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the North & South Open (March 23-25). Second-placed Paul Runyan (USA) finished 3 shots behind Horton Smith (USA). [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Oklahoma Four-Ball.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Inverness Invitational.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Victoria Open.

1936
Majors
285 (-3)
$1,500
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Score

285 (-3)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

The Masters Tournament (3rd) (April 3-6; played as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament). Second-placed Harry Cooper (USA) finished 1 shot behind Smith (USA). Smith secured his second Masters title in only its third year. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

1936
Awards
$7,682
see Score
PGA of America

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

$7,682

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Smith (USA) was the PGA Tour 1936 leading money winner, with earnings of $7,682 on the Tour.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Palm Springs Invitational.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Pasadena Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Score

281 (-3)

Prize money

$2,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Miami Biltmore Open (Dec 14-17). Second-placed Ky Laffoon (USA) and Ted Turner (USA) finished 3 shots behind Horton Smith (USA). [The Biltmore, Coral Gables, Miami, FL].

1934
Majors
284 (-4)
$1,500
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

The inaugural Masters Tournament (March 22-25; played as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament). Second-placed Craig Wood (USA) finished 1 shot behind Smith (USA). [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the California Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Grand Slam Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the International Four-Ball Matches.

1932
America
Kenwood G&CC, MD
216 (+6)
$700
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Kenwood G&CC, MD

Score

216 (+6)

Prize money

$700

Title sponsor

x

Played as the National Capital City Open (Nov 10-13; 54-hole event; formerly the Kenwood Open). Second-placed Denny Shute (USA) finished 2 shots behind Smith (USA). [Kenwood G&CC, Bethesda, Maryland].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the St Paul Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Central Florida Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Bay District Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Berkeley Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Savannah Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Berkeley Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Pensacola Open Invitational.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Florida Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Pasadena Open.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Score

287 (-1)

Prize money

$700

Title sponsor

x

Played as the North & South Open (March 26/27). Second-placed Tommy Armour (Scot/USA) finished 2 shots behind Horton Smith (USA). [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Oregon Open.

1929
America
La Gorce CC
289 (+5)
$5,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

La Gorce CC

Score

289 (+5)

Prize money

$5,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the La Gorce Open (March 22/23). Second-placed Ed Dudley (USA) finished 2 shots behind Horton Smith (USA). [La Gorce CC, Miami Beach, FL].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Fort Myers Open.

1928
America
Catalina CC
245 (-11)
$500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Catalina CC

Score

245 (-11)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Catalina Island Open (Dec 21-23). Second-placed Walter Hagen (USA) finished 1 shot behind 20-year-old Horton Smith (USA), who recorded his second PGA Tour win. The event involved four 18-hole rounds, played as eight circuits on a par-32 nine-hole layout; 27-holes were played on the first two days, and 18 on the final day. [Catalina CC, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, CA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Smith, Horton

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Oklahoma City Open.

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