Horton Smith

Horton Smith

Professional Golfer (1926 - 1963)

Horton Smith was born in Springfield, Missouri and attended Southwest Missouri State. He started his professional golf career in 1926 and won his first tournament, the Oklahoma City Open in 1928. He won eight additional tournaments in 1929. When the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour was founded in 1934, Smith was one of the leading golfers. He won the inaugural Masters Golf tournament in 1934 and won it again two years later. In all, Smith won 32 PGA tour events including the two majors and an additional four titles. He appeared on five Ryder Cup teams, (1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937) and was known as one of the best putters on the tour. He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, after his release, he served as the club pro at Detroit Golf Club from 1946 until his death in 1963. Horton Smith was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 1964, the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1990 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1960. He passed away on October 15, 1963 at 55 years of age.