Macdonald Smith

Who was Macdonald Smith?

Macdonald "Mac" Smith was one of the top golfers in the world from about 1910 into the mid-1930s. He was a member of a famous Scottish golfing family.

Born in Carnoustie, Scotland, Smith learned his golf on the famous and very difficult Carnoustie Golf Links. He emigrated to the United States while still in his teens to seek golfing opportunities. Smith was the club professional at the country club in Del Monte, California, where future two-time major champion Olin Dutra and his brother Mortie started as a caddies. Two of Smith's older brothers won the U.S. Open: Willie in 1899 and Alex in both 1906 and 1910. Brothers George and Jim also played golf at a very high standard.

Every state golf title in the United States has been won by one of the Smith brothers.

Smith won 24 times on the early PGA Tour, but never a major championship, trailing only Harry Cooper for most wins without a major. His 24 Tour wins are also the most by any eligible player not inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Early in his career, he was in a three-man playoff at the U.S. Open in 1910 won by his brother Alex; John McDermott finished second. Smith finished in the top ten at majors 17 times, including three second place finishes: at the U.S. Open in 1930 and the British Open in 1930 and 1932, both in England. His runner-up finishes at both Opens in 1930 were to noted amateur Bobby Jones, the winner of the grand slam that year. He scored five more wins in significant U.S. tournaments, all of which came in events later classified as PGA Tour events.