Macdonald Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Macdonald Smith
Smith set up to hit a fairway wood shot from the rough, c. 1929.
Personal information
Full name	Macdonald S. Smith
Nickname	Mac
Born	(1890-03-18)March 18, 1890 Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland
Died	August 31, 1949(1949-08-31) (aged 59) Glendale, California
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Nationality	Scotland  United States
Spouse	Louise A. Cahill
Career
Turned professional	1908
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	29
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	25
Other	4
Best results in Major Championships
The Masters Tournament	T7: 1934
U.S. Open	2nd: 1930
The Open Championship	2nd/T2: 1930, 1932
PGA Championship	DNP
Achievements and awards
PGA Hall of Fame	1954

Macdonald "Mac" Smith (born March 18, 1890 – died August 31, 1949) was one of the best professional golfers in the world. He played from about 1910 until the mid-1930s. Mac was part of a famous Scottish golfing family.

Many people think Smith was one of the greatest golfers ever. He is known as one of the best players who never won a major championship. He won 25 official events on the PGA Tour. He also finished in the top ten at major championships 17 times.

Early Life and Golf Beginnings

Smith and his wife Louise in February 1923

Macdonald Smith was born in Carnoustie, Scotland. His parents were John D. Smith and Joann Smith. He learned to play golf at the famous and challenging Carnoustie Golf Links. This course is known worldwide for its difficulty.

Moving to the United States

Smith moved to the United States on March 8, 1908. He was 17 years old at the time. He hoped to find more opportunities for golf in America. He became an American citizen on July 31, 1918. At that time, he was serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was stationed at Camp Kearny in San Diego.

In December 1922, he married Louise A. Cahill.

Macdonald Smith's Golf Career

Smith worked as a golf professional at the country club in Del Monte, California. A future two-time major champion, Olin Dutra, started his career there as a caddy.

Macdonald Smith came from a family of talented golfers. Two of his older brothers won the U.S. Open. Willie won in 1899. Alex won in both 1906 and 1910. His brothers George and Jim were also very good golfers.

PGA Tour Wins and Major Championship Near Misses

Macdonald Smith won 25 times on the early PGA Tour. His best year was 1926, when he won five tournaments. However, he never won a modern major championship. He has the most PGA Tour wins (25) of any eligible player not yet in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Smith finished in the top ten at major championships 17 times. He came in second place three times. He was runner-up at the 1930 U.S. Open. He also finished second at The Open Championship in both 1930 and 1932. In 1930, he lost to the famous amateur golfer Bobby Jones. Jones won the Grand Slam that year.

Smith had a tough loss at the 1925 Open Championship in Scotland. He was leading after three rounds. But he shot a high score of 82 in the final round. He ended up finishing in fourth place. During this tournament, there were many spectators on the course. This caused delays and made playing difficult.

Smith also shared a story about another close call at an Open Championship. He was leading on the final day. But his tee shots kept landing in bad spots. He thought that people who had bet against him might have been changing his ball's position.

Smith mostly played in the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. He never played in the PGA Championship. He only played in one Masters Tournament, which was the first one in 1934. His last major tournament was the U.S. Open in 1937.

Other Important Wins

Smith won the Western Open three times (1912, 1925, and 1933). This tournament was very important back then, almost as big as a major. He also won the 1925 North and South Open, which many considered a major at the time.

He won the Los Angeles Open four times. This was another big event with many top players. In 1926, he won the Canadian Open, which is a national championship.

Smith's Golf Swing and Legacy

Macdonald Smith's golf swing was highly admired. Many thought it was one of the best during the time of hickory golf clubs. Famous singer and golfer Bing Crosby said Smith's swing was the best he had ever seen. Even legendary golfer Ben Hogan studied Smith's swing to improve his own.

Smith used a strong grip, turning both hands more to the right on the club. This helped him hit most of his shots with a slight curve, called a draw. Golf teacher Harvey Penick also praised Smith's swing. Penick wrote that Smith had "the prettiest swing I ever saw."

Smith won tournaments over a 25-year period, from 1912 to 1936. Only four other players have had longer winning spans on the PGA Tour. All four of those players are in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Later Life and Death

From 1934 to 1949, Smith was the golf professional at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, California. He even won a PGA Tour event there, the Oakmont Open, in 1935. He continued to play in a few PGA Tour events each year into the early 1940s.

In 1936, he was playing with famous athlete Babe Didrikson when she made her first hole in one. Macdonald Smith was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 1954.

Smith passed away from a heart attack on August 31, 1949, in Glendale, California. He is remembered as one of the best golfers who never won a major championship. His 25 PGA Tour wins are the most by any eligible player not yet in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional Wins

PGA Tour Wins (25)

• 1912 (1) Western Open
• 1924 (2) California Open, Northern California Open
• 1925 (4) California Open, North and South Open, Western Open, Long Island Open
• 1926 (5) Texas Open, Dallas Open, Canadian Open, Metropolitan Open, Chicago Open Championship
• 1928 (3) Los Angeles Open, Palos Verdes Golf Club Open, South Central Open
• 1929 (2) Los Angeles Open, Long Island Open
• 1930 (1) Long Island Open
• 1931 (2) Metropolitan Open, Long Island Open
• 1932 (1) Los Angeles Open
• 1933 (1) Western Open
• 1934 (1) Los Angeles Open
• 1935 (1) Oakmont Open
• 1936 (1) Seattle Open

Other Wins (4)

• 1914 Pennsylvania Open Championship, Metropolitan Open
• 1924 Miami International Four-Ball (with Bill Mehlhorn)
• 1926 Miami International Four-Ball (with Bill Mehlhorn)

Results in Major Championships

Note: Smith never played in the PGA Championship.      Top 10      Did not play NYF = tournament not yet founded
NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary of Major Results

• Most consecutive cuts made – 26 (1915 U.S. Open – 1937 U.S. Open)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (1930 U.S. Open – 1931 Open Championship)