This Day in Golf History: May 22

The largely unheralded Horton Smith was born on this date in 1908 in Springfield, Missouri. Despite winning two Masters titles, the first Masters in 1934 and the third in 1936, and authoring a well received putting instructional book, “The Secret of Holing Putts!,” he had a career in relative obscurity. He was closely aligned with the PGA of America and did much to promote the game. He received his just reward, however, by being elevated into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Smith also served as PGA of America president, 1952-1954, and developed a reputation as a great instructor, contributing articles to Golf Digest.