2020 Virtual U.S. Open: The favorites to win at Winged Foot

Willie Smith, 1899 (1899-1908), -1.60

Alex Smith, 1906, 1910 (1901-1910), -1.49

There were actually three Smith brothers, all Scottish immigrants who learned the game playing Carnoustie, and although their on-course deeds have faded in time the ratings testify to their abilities in their day.

Of the three, the youngest, Macdonald, had the longest career and by most measures was the best. But he had the misfortune to never win an Open – once losing in a playoff to brother Alex – and thus lacks a profile in this event.

The first to break through was Willie, who placed fifth in 1898 and one year later at Baltimore’s Roland Park crushed the field by 11 strokes. Between that showing and 1908, Willie would play in eight Opens, only twice finishing below fifth.

When the nation’s best gathered at Onwentsia outside Chicago in 1906 to see whether anybody could end Willie Anderson’s run of three straight titles, his record made Willie Smith one of the favorites. He turned in a four-round score of 302 that bested Anderson by five strokes. But though that might have been good enough to subdue the rest of the country, it wouldn’t have been won a family best ball. Alex used a second-round 74 to build a large 36-hole lead and breeze home seven strokes ahead of his brother.

When Fred McLeod hung on to win the 1908 event at Myopia, he had to beat both Smiths to do it. Alex finished third, five strokes out of a tie with McLeod and Willie, who lost their 18-hole playoff by six strokes.

At Philadelphia Cricket Club in 1910, Alex shot 71 to defeat John McDermott (75) and brother Macdonald (77) in a three-way playoff. The extra drama should have been unnecessary; Alex missed an 18 inch putt on the final hole that would have given him the title in regulation.

So although neither of the Smith brothers is well-recalled today, based on their records both deserve to be ranked among favorites in this virtual event.