This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2023
The PGA Tour was founded in 1934 and Missouri-born Horton Smith was perhaps the most successful player on tour during its early years, winning a total of 30 PGA tournaments – his last in 1941. Smith was the only golfer to defeat Bobby Jones during his near-perfect Grand Slam campaign of 1930. His two greatest career achievements, though, came at August National, the famous course founded and designed by his nemesis. As fate would have it, Smith stole Mr. Jones' thunder by winning The Masters at Augusta in its inaugural 1934 event. Smiith won The Masters again in 1936 and finished atop the PGA money list that season. He played in every Masters Tournament held through 1963, the year he died.
Among golf collectors, Horton Smith has a passionate following similar to early baseball pioneers like Cy Young and Honus Wagner. In 2013, the inaugural Green Jacket presented to Smith sold for nearly $700,000 at auction – the highest price ever paid for a piece of golf memorabilia until the "Tiger Slam" iron set eclisped $5 million last year. Considered the greatest putter of all time, Horton wrote a book, “The Secret of Holing Putts”, in which both Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones credited him so in their forwards. Said renowned sportswriter Grantland Rice, "Horton is the finest all-around putter I ever saw. And I've seen Walter J. Travis and Jerry Travers at their best. I've seen Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen when they were 'hot'. But Smith has a certain smoothness in stroking every type of putt that lifts him above them all."
Presented here is a tremendous original photograph of Horton Smith from the famed Brown Brothers Collection taken during his dominant 1936 campaign. Smith's backswing is on full display for the camera as he is dressed to the nines with his knickers rolled up, a long-sleeved shirt and neck tie. Measuring 7.75" x 9.5" with top and left edge white borders, the verso is stamped "National Open Golf Championship" with two Brown Brothers stamps, and "Horton Smith - Joplin MO" notated in pencil and other editorial marks. The photo has a fairly smooth surface with some edge and corner wear on the left side, plus a couple thumb tack holes from mounting that are barely visible. Overall, it's easily one of the best examples you will find of golf's first Masters champion! Encapsulated Type I by PSA/DNA.