| Alex Smith | |
| Fullname: | Alexander Smith |
| Birth Date: | 28 January 1874 |
| Birth Place: | Dundee, Angus, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Nationality: | |
| Spouse: | Jessie Maiden |
| Children: | 2 |
| Status: | Professional |
| Prowins: | 8 |
| Majorwins: | 2 |
| Masters: | NYF |
| Usopen: | Won: 1906, 1910 |
| Open: | T16: 1905 |
| Pga: | T9: 1916 |
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.
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]
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.
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.
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. 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.[8] [9]
Smith died on 21 April 1930 at a sanatorium in Baltimore, Maryland.[10]
Note: This list may be incomplete
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner(s)-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 shot lead | (73-74-73-75=295) | 7 strokes | Willie Smith | |||
| U.S. Open (2) | 2 shot deficit | +6 (73-73-79-73=298) | Playoff1 |  John McDermott, Macdonald Smith |
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 | 3 | 3 | ||
| The Open Championship | T16 | T25 |
| Tournament | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open | 1 | T23 | T3 | T16 | T22 | NT | NT | WD | T5 | ||||
| The Open Championship | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | ||||||||
| PGA Championship | NYF | NYF | NYF | NYF | NYF | NYF | R16 | NT | NT |