Full name William Smith U.S. Open Won: 1899 Professional wins 3 Masters Tournament DNP Role Golfer | Status Professional Name Willie Smith Nationality Scotland The Open Championship T5: 1910 | |
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Died December 26, 1916, Mexico City, Mexico | ||
Willie Smith (8 October 1876 – 26 December 1916) was a Scottish golfer. He won the 1899 U.S. Open.
Contents
- Early life
- 1899 US Open
- Western Open and California State Open
- Later life
- Death
- Results timeline
- References
Early life
Willie Smith was born in Dundee, Scotland on 8 October 1876. He learned to play golf in Carnoustie. His brothers Alex and Macdonald were also expert golfers.
1899 U.S. Open
While working as a professional at the Midlothian Country Club, near Chicago he won the fifth staging of the U.S. Open in 1899, which was played at the Baltimore Country Club, Roland Park Course. He won by a margin of eleven shots, which wasn't bettered until Tiger Woods won the 2000 championship by fifteen shots. Smith's prize was $150. He played in nine U.S. Opens in total, and made the top-10 in eight of them, but he did not win again.
Western Open and California State Open
In 1899, Smith won the first Western Open in a playoff against Laurie Auchterlonie. He also won the 1900 California State Open.
Later life
In 1904, Smith moved to Mexico City to become the golf pro at the Mexico City Country Club. He was injured during the Mexican Revolution. He had refused to leave his post at the country club and was found trapped under a fallen beam after Emiliano Zapata's troops ransacked the club which they saw as a symbol of the corrupt ruling class.
Death
He died of pneumonia on 26 December 1916. His body was returned to Scotland for burial in the family plot.
Results timeline
Smith played in only the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.
DNP = Did not play
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10