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Horton Smith (www.photosfromthefairway.com) |
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Horton Smith was born on May 22, 1908, in Springfield, Missouri. Horton’s parents, Perry and Ann, had a farm seven miles from town. Horton was the second of two boys. While Horton and his older brother, Renshaw, were growing up, they helped on the family farm by milking cows, and working with the pigs, steer, and turkeys. The Smiths’ would eventually move to a farm closer to Springfield, giving Horton the opportunity to be introduced to the game of golf, with Springfield Country Club only a half-mile from the family farm. To make extra money, Horton, beginning at the age of 11, would caddie for the members of Springfield Country Club. Horton would be paid 25 cents for carrying a members’ bag for nine holes. After a year of caddying part-time, Horton began to caddie regularly and played as often as possible. Every day after school, Horton would throw his clubs on his bike and head to the course.
The Smith family would eventually join the Springfield Country Club, which gave Horton the ability to play every morning before school and caddie in the afternoon. Recognizing Horton’s skill and potential, head pro Neil Crose put Horton under his wing. When Horton was thirteen years old, he finished second to older brother Ren in the Junior Club Championship. The following year, at the age of 14, Horton would finally win the Junior Championship at the club.
In 1923, Horton would get the opportunity of a lifetime for a young golfer. At the age of 15, Horton and his brother, Ren, caddied for Walter Hagen and Joe Kirkwood in an exhibition match in Joplin. At the end of the match, Hagen gave Smith some balls and “ready tees.” This was the first time Horton had seen wooden tees, as players at the time would typically use wet sand tee up their ball. Horton would maintain a relationship with Walter for many years. The same year, Horton won both the Springfield Country Club and Springfield City Championship at the young age of 15. Also in 1923, Horton set the Club’s course record at 58, by shooting a 26 on the front nine holes that carried a par of 31, and shooting a 32 on the back nine with a par of 35. After high school, Horton spent some time in college at the State Teachers’ College in Springfield. While in college, Horton could not deny his dream of becoming a golf professional, and, against his father’s wishes, Horton dropped out of college and began working as an assistant professional at Springfield County Club, where he would quickly work to become the caddie master and assistant to Neil Crose.
In 1927, Horton was offered and accepted the position of club pro in Sedalia, Missouri. In the same year, he was invited to also become the head pro at both the Golf Club in California, Missouri, and the Jefferson City Country Club in Jefferson City, Missouri. Each week, Horton would spend a few days at each course. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, he worked in Sedalia. On Wednesday, he would be in California, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Horton would be at the Jefferson City Country Club. During this time in golf history, it was common to be the head professional at more than one club. Also that year, Horton qualified for the U.S. Open at Oakmont, in Pittsburgh, and finished in 44th place. During the winter of 1927, Horton competed in golf tournaments across the country, learning about the professional tour.
In 1928, at the age of 20, Horton moved to Joplin, Missouri, to be the head professional at Oak Hill Country Club, which is now known as Twin Hills Country Club. During the same year, Horton would break out for his first professional win at the Oklahoma City Open, where he took home $1,000 for first place. One month later, Horton struck again at the Catalina Open. Horton was in the clubhouse with a three-stoke lead over Walter Hagen who had three holes left to play. When Horton went back out on the course to watch Walter come in Walter asked Horton what he had shot, and when told, Walter replied with “well I guess I need to shoot a three, a two, and a one to beat you,” as the final three holes were a par four, a par three, and a par three. Walter birdied the first two holes. On the final hole, Hagen sent his caddie down to tend the flag. The shot was on line but flew over the flag. Horton would beat the great Walter Hagen by one stroke at the Catalina Open bagging $2,500.00.
1929 would be Horton’s biggest year with earnings of $15,000. With thanks to his almost supernatural putting ability, Horton was number one on the money list. Horton was voted onto the Ryder Cup team that year and, at the time, was the youngest player ever to be a member of the team. Unfortunately, the United States Ryder Cup team would lose that year. Horton and Leo Diegel were the only Americans to win their singles matches that year. It would later be Horton’s idea to use the point structure used today during Ryder Cup play. Later the same year, Horton won The French Open on his 21st birthday. After the round, Walter Hagen presented Horton with a birthday cake on the 18th hole, and a party that night at the Ritz. Throughout the year, Horton played nearly 100 exhibition matches with his friend Walter Hagen. The following year, Horton toured Mexico with Ed Dudley for the Mexican Golf Association. Horton also won the 1930 Savannah Open, which was the last time a player would defeat Bobby Jones in formal competition. In 1931, “The Joplin Ghost” won the St. Paul Open and became the head pro at Oak Park Country Club in Oak Park, Illinois. Even after his tremendous successes in golf at such a young age, 1934 was the year Horton would leave his mark on golf history.
In 1934, the great Bobby Jones organized a tournament to be held at his club in Augusta, Georgia. Bobby invited only the finest golfers in the world, including Gene Sarazen, Harry Cooper, and Walter Hagen. Against the finest, Horton posted a four round total of 284 to win the inaugural Augusta National Invitational, later to be renamed “The Masters.” Horton made a three foot putt on the final hole to beat Craig Wood by one stroke. He would take home $1,500 for the win.
Horton would win this tournament again in 1936 to be the first two-time champion. The tournament was hampered by bad weather making the final 36 holes be played on Monday. Thanks to a 45-foot chip in on the 68th hole, an 8 foot put on the 69th, and an 16 foot put on the 71st, Horton was able to pull off the victory by one stroke over Harry Cooper.
During The Masters tournament in 1936, Horton would meet Barbara Bourne the heiress to the Singer Sewing Machine estate. They would marry just two years later in 1938. During the beginning of the marriage Horton was called to serve in the war. In the fall of 1942 he went to the Army Air Corps. On June 30, 1943 in Baltimore Barbara gave birth to a son, Alfred Bourne. Horton missed the birth of his son and did not meet him until one week later, upon Horton’s return from the war. In 1945 Barbara sought a divorce in Reno, Nevada based on grounds of mental cruelty. Horton would never remarry.
In 1946 Horton would take the head pro job at the Detroit Golf Club where he had played in the Ryder Cup in 1941. The famous Alex Ross announced his retirement and asked Horton to take his place. In 1952 Horton sought a larger role with the PGA by becoming president of the association. He served as president 3 terms, the most allowed by the PGA. While acting president Horton made many improvements for the young tour. The most noted change occurred by addressing the issue of blacks on tour, as African-Americans were barred from PGA sponsored tournaments. In 1952 Joe Louis, former heavyweight boxing champion and avid golfer, was banned from the San Diego Open after promoters had invited him to play. Horton told the committee to incorporate an “approved entry clause,” which would allow the independent tournaments to invite whomever they choose to play in their tournaments; Louis was allowed to play.
After the Masters in 1957, Horton developed a persistent cough which later was diagnosed as Hodgkin’s disease. On September 21, 1957 a successful operation removed a growth in his right lung. Horton fortunately had enough energy to play in The Masters again in 1958, to become the only golfer to participate in all 22 Masters tournaments.
In 1958, Horton was only the 20th player inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame. In 1959 the PGA of Great Britain made Horton an honorary life member of its organization, at the time he was the only golfer from the U.S. to receive that recognition. In August of 1959, Horton was hospitalized for a shadow on his left upper lobe. In 1960 Horton won the Ben Hogan award, which is given annually to the golfer who has overcome illness or injury and continued to play the game.
In 1962 he took a trip to Springfield for the opening of the golf course named in his honor. During the inaugural round at Horton Smith Golf Course, Horton shot a 36 on the 9-hole, par 34 course. Playing partners Sam Reynolds, Tom Talbot, and Gene Sallee shot 38, 38, and 36 respectfully. Weeks later Horton played his 26th Masters. In November he went home to Springfield with his brother Ren. After a week at home he entered St. John’s hospital. His physician Dr. Polk had a tube inserted into his windpipe. Two mucous plus were removed along with 2 pints of fluid. Again Horton mustered up the strength to play in the Masters in 1963. Just a few months later on Tuesday October 15, 1963 at the age of 55 Horton Smith died. Smith was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1964 and the World Golf Hal of Fame in 1990.
- Played on 3 Ryder Cup Teams 1929, ’33, ’35. Was chosen but did not play ’31, ’37,’39,’41
- Wrote 2 putting books, and countless articles for Sports Illustrated, Esquire and others.
- According to Bobby Jones Horton was “one of the finest putters of all time.”
- In 1965 his autobiography titled “Velvet Touch” was produced with Marian Benton.
- Inducted to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1964
- Inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1990
- In July 2000 Golf Digest named Horton the 38th greatest player of all time
- In 1959 the British PGA granted Horton an honorary lifetime membership. He is the only golfer from the U.S. ever to receive the award.
Career Victories
1928 Oklahoma City Open
1929 Catalina Open
1929 Fort Myers Open
1929 French Open
1929 Jacksonville Open
1929 La Gorge Open
1929 North and South Open
1929 Oregon Open
1929 Pasadena Open
1929 Pensacola Open
1930 Berkeley Open
1930 Oregon Open
1930 Orlando Open
1930 Savannah Open
1931 St. Paul Open
1932 Capital City Open
1932 Michigan City Open
1932 Tri-State Open
1933 California Open
1933 International Four-Ball
1933 Louisville Open
1934 The Masters
1935 Miami Biltmore Open
1935 Oklahoma City Four-Ball
1935 Palm Springs Open
1935 Pasadena Open
1935 Toledo Inverness
1936 The Masters
1936 Victoria B.C. Open
1937 Inverness Invitational with Harry Cooper
1937 Oklahoma City Invitational
1937 North and South Open
1940 St. Augustine Pro-Amateur Championship with Marvin Ward
1941 Belleair Open
1941 Florida West Coast Pen
1941 Mid-South Open
1941 St. Paul Open
1948 Michigan P.G.A.
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