Jump to content

Lee Trevino

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Lee Treviño)

Lee Trevino
Trevino in April 2010
Personal information
Full nameLee Buck Trevino
NicknameThe Merry Mex, Supermex
Born (1939-12-01) December 1, 1939 (age 84)
Garland, Texas, U.S.
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
Sporting nationality United States
ResidenceJupiter Island, Florida, U.S.
Spouse
Claudia Fenley
(divorced)

Claudia Bove
(m. 1983)
Children6
Career
Turned professional1960
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins92
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour29
European Tour5
Japan Golf Tour1
Sunshine Tour1
PGA Tour of Australasia1
PGA Tour Champions29 (3rd all-time)
Other19 (regular)
10 (senior)
Best results in major championships
(wins: 6)
Masters TournamentT10: 1975, 1985
PGA ChampionshipWon: 1974, 1984
U.S. OpenWon: 1968, 1971
The Open ChampionshipWon: 1971, 1972
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame1981 (member page)
PGA Tour
money list winner
1970
Vardon Trophy1970, 1971, 1972,
1974, 1980
PGA Player of the Year1971
Sports Illustrated
Sportsman of the Year
1971
Associated Press
Male Athlete of the Year
1971
Byron Nelson Award1980
Senior PGA Tour
money list winner
1990, 1992
Senior PGA Tour
Player of the Year
1990, 1992, 1994
Senior PGA Tour
Rookie of the Year
1990
Senior PGA Tour
Byron Nelson Award
1990, 1991, 1992

Lee Buck Trevino (born December 1, 1939) is an American retired professional golfer who is regarded as one of the greatest players in golf history.[1][2][3][4] He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. Trevino won six major championships and 29 PGA Tour events over the course of his career. He is one of only four players to twice win the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. The Masters Tournament was the only major that eluded him. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "the Merry Mex" and "Supermex," both affectionate nicknames given to him by other golfers.[5]

Early life

[edit]

Trevino was born in Garland, Texas,[6] into a family of Mexican ancestry. He was raised by his mother, Juanita Trevino, and his grandfather, Joe Trevino, a gravedigger. Trevino never knew his father, Joseph Trevino, who left when his son was small. During his childhood, Trevino occasionally attended school and worked to earn money for the family. At age 5, he started working in the cotton fields.[7]

Trevino was introduced to golf when his uncle gave him a few golf balls and an old golf club. He then spent his free time sneaking into nearby country clubs to practice and began as a caddie at the Dallas Athletic Club, near his home. He soon began caddying full-time. Trevino left school at age 14 to go to work. He earned $30 a week as a caddie and shoe shiner.[citation needed] He was also able to practice golf since the caddies had three short holes behind their shack. After work, he would hit at least 300 balls.[citation needed] Many of these practice shots were struck from the bare ground with very little grass (known locally as 'Texas hardpan') and often in very windy conditions. It is this that is widely believed to be the reason Trevino developed his extremely distinct, unique (many would say unorthodox), and compact swing method, which he went on to develop with tremendous effect.[8] A very pronounced controlled "fade" was his signature shot, although he had many other shot types in his repertoire and he is, still to this day, remembered as one of the very finest shot-makers of all time.

When Trevino turned 17 in December 1956, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and served four years as a machine gunner and was discharged in December 1960 as a corporal with the 3rd Marine Division. He spent part of his time playing golf with Marine Corps officers. He played successfully in Armed Forces golf events in Asia, where one rival was Orville Moody, who would follow Trevino to the PGA Tour in the late 1960s.[9]

Professional career

[edit]

After Trevino was discharged from the Marines, he went to work as a club professional in El Paso, Texas. He made extra money by gambling for stakes in head-to-head matches. He qualified for the U.S. Open in 1966, made the cut, and tied for 54th, earning $600. He qualified again in 1967 and shot 283 (+3), eight shots behind champion Jack Nicklaus, and only four behind runner-up Arnold Palmer. Trevino earned $6,000 for finishing fifth, which earned him Tour privileges for the rest of the 1967 season. He won $26,472 as a rookie, 45th on the PGA Tour money list, and was named Rookie of the Year by Golf Digest. The fifth-place finish at the U.S. Open also earned him an exemption into the following year's event.

In 1968, his second year on the circuit, Trevino won the U.S. Open at Oak Hill Country Club, in Rochester, New York, four strokes ahead of runner-up Nicklaus, the defending champion. His rounds of 69,68,69,69 was the first time 70 was broken in all 4 rounds of a US Open. During his career, Trevino won 29 times on the PGA Tour, including six majors. He was at his best in the early 1970s, when he was Jack Nicklaus's chief rival. He won the money list title in 1970, and had six wins in 1971 and four wins in 1972.

Trevino had a remarkable string of victories during a 20-day span in the summer of 1971. He defeated Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff to win the 1971 U.S. Open. Two weeks later, he won the Canadian Open (the first of three), and the following week won The Open Championship (British Open), becoming the first player to win those three titles in the same year. Trevino was awarded the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of 1971. He also won Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year"[10] and was named ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year.

In 1972 at Muirfield in Scotland, Trevino became the first player to successfully defend The Open Championship since Arnold Palmer in 1962. In a remarkable third round at Muirfield, Trevino had five consecutive birdies from the 14th through the 18th, holing a bunker shot on the 16th and sinking a 30–foot chip on the 18th for a round of 66. In the final round, Trevino was tied for the lead on the 17th tee with Tony Jacklin. Trevino chipped in from rough on the back of the green for a par on the 17th. A shaken Jacklin three-putted the same hole from 15 feet for a bogey. Trevino parred the 18th hole for a final round of 71, winning him the Open by a stroke over Nicklaus, with Jacklin finishing third. Trevino holed out four times from off the greens during the tournament. Nicklaus had won the first two majors of the year (Masters, U.S. Open) and fell just short in the third leg of the grand slam.[11] After holing his chip shot on the 17th in the final round, Trevino said: "I'm the greatest chipper in the world."[12]

In 1974, Trevino won the Greater New Orleans Open without scoring any bogeys, the only time it had happened in a PGA Tour individual event until J. T. Poston accomplished the feat at the 2019 Wyndham Championship.[13][14] At the PGA Championship he won the fifth of his six major championships. He won the title by a stroke, again over Nicklaus, the fourth and final time Nicklaus was a runner-up in a major to Trevino. At the Western Open near Chicago in 1975, Trevino was struck by lightning,[15][16][17][18] and suffered injuries to his spine. He underwent surgery to remove a damaged spinal disk, but back problems continued to hamper his play. Nevertheless, he was ranked second in McCormack's World Golf Rankings in 1980 behind Tom Watson. Trevino had 3 PGA Tour wins in 1980 and finished runner-up to Tom Watson in the 1980 Open Championship. At the age of 44, Trevino won his sixth and final major at the PGA Championship in 1984, with a 15-under-par score of 273, becoming the first player to shoot all four rounds under 70 in the PGA Championship.[19] He was the runner-up the following year in 1985, attempting to become the first repeat champion since Denny Shute in 1937.

Tom Watson (left) with President Ronald Reagan and Trevino in 1988.
Tom Watson (left) with President Ronald Reagan and Trevino in 1988.

In the early 1980s, Trevino was second on the PGA Tour's career money list, behind only Nicklaus.[20] From 1968 to 1981 inclusive, Trevino won at least one PGA Tour event a year, a streak of 14 seasons. He also won more than 20 international and unofficial professional tournaments. He was one of the charismatic stars who was instrumental in making the Senior PGA Tour (now the PGA Tour Champions) an early success. He claimed 29 senior wins, including four senior majors. He topped the seniors' money list in 1990 and 1992.[citation needed]

Like many American stars of the era, Trevino played a considerable amount overseas. Early in his career he played sporadically on the Australasian Tour. He finished runner-up in the 1969 and 1970 Dunlop International and ultimately won down under at the 1973 Chrysler Classic.[21] He also won an event on the Japan Golf Tour, the Casio World Open in 1981. Trevino also had a great deal of success in Europe. Among his greatest triumphs were at the 1971 Open Championship and 1972 Open Championship. Trevino was also invited to play at the very prestigious (though unofficial) Piccadilly World Match Play Championship three times (1968, 1970, 1972). He reached the finals twice. His most notable performance probably came in 1970 when he defeated defending Masters champion Billy Casper in the quarterfinals and defending PGA champion Dave Stockton in the semifinals. He also won two regular European Tour events late in his career at 1978 Benson & Hedges International Open and 1985 Dunhill British Masters. In fact, his last regular tour win was at the British Masters. Additionally, he finished runner-up at three European Tour events: the 1980 Bob Hope British Classic, 1980 Open Championship, and the 1986 Benson & Hedges International Open.

From 1983 to 1989, he worked as a color analyst for PGA Tour coverage on NBC television. In 2014 Trevino was named "Golf Professional Emeritus" at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a position previously held by Sam Snead and Tom Watson.[citation needed]

Masters Tournament

[edit]

At the Masters Tournament in 1989, 49-year-old Trevino opened with a bogey-free five-under-par 67 to become the oldest to lead the field after a round in the tournament.[22][23][24][25][26] It came despite Trevino's words twenty years earlier, when he said after the 1969 edition: "Don't talk to me about the Masters. I'm never going to play there again. They can invite me all they want, but I'm not going back. It's just not my type of course."[27] Trevino said that he felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere at Augusta National and that he disliked the course because his style of play, where he liked to fade low shots left to right, was not suited to the course.[28][29]

Trevino did not accept invitations to the Masters in 1970,[29] 1971, and 1974. In 1972, after forgoing the previous two Masters tournaments, he stored his shoes and other items in the trunk of his car, rather than use the locker room facilities in the clubhouse. Trevino complained that had he not qualified as a player, the club would not have let him onto the grounds except through the kitchen. But he later described his boycott of the Masters as "the greatest mistake I've made in my career" and called Augusta National "the eighth wonder of the world."[30]

After his opening round 67 in 1989, Trevino tied for eighteenth; his best career result at the Masters was a tie for tenth (1975, 1985).[citation needed]

Distinctions and honors

[edit]
  • Trevino was the first player to shoot all four regulation rounds under par at the U.S. Open. At Oak Hill in 1968, Trevino played rounds of 69-68-69-69.
  • A major street in El Paso, Texas was named Lee Trevino Drive in his honor, and streets in Rio Rancho and Belen, New Mexico were also named for him.
  • Trevino received the 1971 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award.[31]
  • One of two golfers to win the PGA Tour's three oldest events in the same year: The Open Championship (1860), the U.S. Open (1895), and the Canadian Open (1904). Trevino won in 1971[32] and Tiger Woods won in 2000
  • Trevino played for the United States in the Ryder Cup six times (1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1979, 1981), and had an impressive 17–7–6 (.667) record. He also served as team captain in 1985.
  • Trevino won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average five times: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1980.
  • Trevino has established numerous scholarships and other financial aid to Mexican-Americans.
  • Trevino was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981.
  • In 2000, Golf Digest magazine ranked Trevino as the 14th-greatest golfer of all time.[33]

Humor

[edit]

Throughout his career, Trevino was seen as approachable and humorous, and was frequently quoted by the press. Late in his career, he remarked, "I played the tour in 1967 and told jokes and nobody laughed. Then I won the Open the next year, told the same jokes, and everybody laughed like hell."[34]

At the beginning of Trevino's 1971 U.S. Open playoff against Jack Nicklaus, he threw a rubber snake that his daughter had put in his bag as a joke at Nicklaus, who later admitted that he asked Trevino to throw it to him so he could see it. Trevino grabbed the rubbery object and playfully tossed it at Nicklaus, getting a scream from a nearby woman and a hearty laugh from Nicklaus. Trevino shot a 68 to defeat Nicklaus by three strokes.[35]

During one tournament, Tony Jacklin, paired with Trevino, said: "Lee, I don't want to talk today." Trevino retorted: "I don't want you to talk. I just want you to listen."[36]

Trevino made a notable cameo appearance in the comedy Happy Gilmore, appearing in several scenes where he's a witness to Happy's anger outbursts, always shaking his head in shocked disapproval. His only spoken line is when the movie's antagonist, Shooter McGavin, says to Happy in sarcasm, "Yeah, right, and Grizzly Adams had a beard," to which an unexpected Trevino appears and says to McGavin, "Grizzly Adams did have a beard." Trevino would later regret appearing in the film, due to the amount of swearing.[37]

After he was struck by lightning at the 1975 Western Open, Trevino was asked by a reporter what he would do if he were out on the course and it began to storm again. Trevino answered he would take out his 1-iron and point it to the sky, "because not even God can hit a 1-iron." Trevino said later in an interview with David Feherty that he must have tempted God the week before by staying outside during a lightning delay to entertain the crowds, saying "I deserved to get hit...God can hit a 1-iron."[citation needed]

Trevino said: "I've been hit by lightning and been in the Marine Corps for four years. I've traveled the world and been about everywhere you can imagine. There's not anything I'm scared of except my wife."[38]

Professional wins (92)

[edit]

PGA Tour wins (29)

[edit]
Legend
Major championships (6)
Players Championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (22)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Jun 16, 1968 U.S. Open 69-68-69-69=275 −5 4 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
2 Nov 10, 1968 Hawaiian Open 68-71-65-68=272 −16 2 strokes United States George Archer
3 Feb 23, 1969 Tucson Open Invitational 67-70-68-66=271 −17 7 strokes United States Miller Barber
4 Feb 15, 1970 Tucson Open Invitational (2) 66-68-72-69=275 −13 Playoff United States Bob Murphy
5 Mar 29, 1970 National Airlines Open Invitational 69-66-68-71=274 −14 Playoff United States Bob Menne
6 Apr 25, 1971 Tallahassee Open Invitational 69-67-69-68=273 −15 3 strokes United States Jim Wiechers
7 May 30, 1971 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic 66-66-69-67=268 −12 4 strokes United States Lee Elder, United States Jerry Heard,
United States Hale Irwin, United States Randy Wolff
8 Jun 21, 1971 U.S. Open (2) 70-72-69-69=280 E Playoff United States Jack Nicklaus
9 Jul 4, 1971 Canadian Open 73-68-67-67=275 −13 Playoff United States Art Wall Jr.
10 Jul 10, 1971 The Open Championship 69-70-69-70=278 −14 1 stroke Taiwan Lu Liang-Huan
11 Oct 31, 1971 Sahara Invitational 69-72-73-66=280 −8 1 stroke United States George Archer
12 May 21, 1972 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (2) 70-72-72-67=281 −7 4 strokes United States John Mahaffey
13 Jul 15, 1972 The Open Championship (2) 71-70-66-71=278 −6 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
14 Sep 4, 1972 Greater Hartford Open Invitational 64-68-72-65=269 −15 Playoff United States Lee Elder
15 Sep 17, 1972 Greater St. Louis Golf Classic 65-68-66-70=269 −11 1 stroke United States Deane Beman
16 Feb 25, 1973 Jackie Gleason Inverrary-National Airlines Classic 69-69-69-72=279 −9 1 stroke United States Forrest Fezler
17 Mar 11, 1973 Doral-Eastern Open 64-70-71-71=276 −12 1 stroke Australia Bruce Crampton, United States Tom Weiskopf
18 Mar 31, 1974 Greater New Orleans Open 67-68-67-65=267 −21 8 strokes South Africa Bobby Cole, United States Ben Crenshaw
19 Aug 11, 1974 PGA Championship 73-66-68-69=276 −4 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
20 Mar 9, 1975 Florida Citrus Open 69-66-70-71=276 −12 1 stroke United States Hale Irwin
21 May 16, 1976 Colonial National Invitation 68-64-68-73=273 −7 1 stroke United States Mike Morley
22 Jul 24, 1977 Canadian Open (2) 67-68-71-74=280 −8 4 strokes England Peter Oosterhuis
23 May 14, 1978 Colonial National Invitation (2) 66-68-68-66=268 −12 4 strokes United States Jerry Heard, United States Jerry Pate
24 Jun 24, 1979 Canadian Open (3) 67-71-72-71=281 −3 3 strokes United States Ben Crenshaw
25 Mar 23, 1980 Tournament Players Championship 68-72-68-70=278 −10 1 stroke United States Ben Crenshaw
26 Jun 29, 1980 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (3) 67-68-68-69=272 −16 1 stroke United States Tom Purtzer
27 Sep 21, 1980 San Antonio Texas Open 66-67-67-65=265 −15 1 stroke United States Terry Diehl
28 Apr 19, 1981 MONY Tournament of Champions 67-67-70-69=273 −15 2 strokes United States Raymond Floyd
29 Aug 19, 1984 PGA Championship (2) 69-68-67-69=273 −15 4 strokes South Africa Gary Player, United States Lanny Wadkins

PGA Tour playoff record (5–5)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1970 Tucson Open Invitational United States Bob Murphy Won with birdie on first extra hole
2 1970 National Airlines Open Invitational United States Bob Menne Won with par on second extra hole
3 1970 Kaiser International Open Invitational United States Ken Still, United States Bert Yancey Still won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1971 Kemper Open United States Dale Douglass, South Africa Gary Player,
United States Tom Weiskopf
Weiskopf won with birdie on first extra hole
5 1971 U.S. Open United States Jack Nicklaus Won 18-hole playoff;
Trevino: −2 (68),
Nicklaus: +1 (71)
6 1971 Canadian Open United States Art Wall Jr. Won with birdie on first extra hole
7 1972 Greater Hartford Open United States Lee Elder Won with birdie on first extra hole
8 1978 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic United States Andy Bean Lost to birdie on first extra hole
9 1978 Greater Milwaukee Open United States Lee Elder Lost to par on eighth extra hole
10 1980 Michelob-Houston Open United States Curtis Strange Lost to birdie on first extra hole

European Tour wins (5)

[edit]
Legend
Major championships (3)
Other European Tour (2)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Jul 15, 1972 The Open Championship 71-70-66-71=278 −6 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
2 Aug 11, 1974 PGA Championship 73-66-68-69=276 −4 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
3 Aug 12, 1978 Benson & Hedges International Open 69-67-72-66=274 −10 Playoff England Neil Coles, Australia Noel Ratcliffe
4 Aug 19, 1984 PGA Championship (2) 69-68-67-69=273 −15 4 strokes South Africa Gary Player, United States Lanny Wadkins
5 Jun 10, 1985 Dunhill British Masters 74-68-69-67=278 −10 3 strokes Australia Rodger Davis

European Tour playoff record (1–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 1978 Benson & Hedges International Open England Neil Coles, Australia Noel Ratcliffe Won with par on fourth extra hole
Ratcliffe eliminated by par on first hole
2 1986 Benson & Hedges International Open South Africa Hugh Baiocchi, England Mark James James won with birdie on first extra hole

PGA of Japan Tour wins (1)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 Nov 29, 1981 Casio World Open 68-67-71-69=275 −13 4 strokes Japan Isao Aoki

Southern Africa Tour wins (1)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 Feb 7, 1981 Sun City Classic 72-64-72-73=281 −7 1 stroke Zimbabwe Mark McNulty

PGA Tour of Australia wins (1)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 Nov 4, 1973 Chrysler Classic 68-72-69-68=277 −15 4 strokes Australia Stewart Ginn

Canadian Tour wins (2)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 Sep 2, 1979 Labatt's International Golf Classic 67-76-72-70=285 +1 3 strokes United States Lanny Wadkins
2 Jul 10, 1983 Labatt's International (2) 67-65-69-70=271 −17 3 strokes Japan Tsuneyuki Nakajima

Other wins (17)

[edit]

Senior PGA Tour wins (29)

[edit]
Legend
Senior PGA Tour major championships (4)
Other Senior PGA Tour (25)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Feb 4, 1990 Royal Caribbean Classic 71-67-68=206 −10 1 stroke United States Butch Baird, United States Jim Dent
2 Feb 18, 1990 Aetna Challenge 66-67-67=200 −16 1 stroke Australia Bruce Crampton
3 Mar 4, 1990 Vintage Chrysler Invitational 66-67-72=205 −11 1 stroke United States Dale Douglass, United States Mike Hill,
United States Don Massengale
4 May 20, 1990 Doug Sanders Kingwood Celebrity Classic 67-67-69=203 −13 6 strokes South Africa Gary Player
5 Jun 3, 1990 NYNEX Commemorative 66-66-67=199 −11 Playoff United States Mike Fetchick, United States Jimmy Powell,
United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez
6 Jul 1, 1990 U.S. Senior Open 67-68-73-67=275 −13 2 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
7 Oct 21, 1990 Transamerica Senior Golf Championship 73-67-65=205 −11 2 strokes United States Mike Hill
8 Feb 17, 1991 Aetna Challenge (2) 71-68-66=205 −11 1 stroke United States Dale Douglass
9 Mar 17, 1991 Vantage at The Dominion 67-70=137* −7 2 strokes United States Mike Hill, United States Charles Coody,
United States Rocky Thompson
10 Aug 25, 1991 Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic 66-65-69=200 −16 4 strokes United States Jim O'Hern, United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez
11 Mar 15, 1992 Vantage at The Dominion (2) 68-66-67=201 −15 2 strokes United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez
12 Apr 5, 1992 The Tradition 67-69-68-70=274 −14 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
13 Apr 19, 1992 PGA Seniors' Championship 72-64-71-71=278 −10 1 stroke United States Mike Hill
14 May 3, 1992 Las Vegas Senior Classic 71-68-67=206 −10 1 stroke United States Orville Moody
15 May 24, 1992 Bell Atlantic Classic 65-72-68=205 −5 1 stroke United States Gibby Gilbert
16 May 30, 1993 Cadillac NFL Golf Classic 67-70-72=209 −7 2 strokes Australia Bruce Crampton, United States Raymond Floyd
17 Sep 26, 1993 Nationwide Championship 66-66-73=205 −11 2 strokes United States George Archer, United States Jim Ferree,
United States Mike Hill, United States Dave Stockton,
United States Rocky Thompson
18 Oct 3, 1993 Vantage Championship 65-67-66=198 −18 5 strokes United States DeWitt Weaver
19 Feb 6, 1994 Royal Caribbean Classic (2) 66-73-66=205 −8 Playoff United States Kermit Zarley
20 Apr 17, 1994 PGA Seniors' Championship (2) 70-69-70-70=279 −9 1 stroke United States Jim Colbert
21 May 15, 1994 PaineWebber Invitational 70-65-68=203 −13 1 stroke United States Jim Colbert, United States Jimmy Powell
22 May 29, 1994 Bell Atlantic Classic (2) 71-67-68=206 −4 2 strokes United States Mike Hill
23 Jun 19, 1994 BellSouth Senior Classic 67-65-67=199 −17 1 stroke United States Jim Albus, United States Dave Stockton
24 Jul 31, 1994 Northville Long Island Classic 66-69-65=200 −17 7 strokes United States Jim Colbert
25 Aug 20, 1995 Northville Long Island Classic (2) 67-69-66=202 −14 4 strokes United States Buddy Allin
26 Oct 8, 1995 The Transamerica (2) 66-69-66=201 −15 3 strokes United States Bruce Summerhays
27 Nov 3, 1996 Emerald Coast Classic 69-70-68=207 −3 Playoff United States Bob Eastwood, Australia David Graham,
United States Mike Hill, United States Dave Stockton
28 Mar 29, 1998 Southwestern Bell Dominion (3) 69-69-67=205 −11 2 strokes United States Mike McCullough
29 Jun 25, 2000 Cadillac NFL Golf Classic (2) 66-67-69=202 −14 2 strokes United States Walter Hall

*Note: The 1991 Vantage at The Dominion was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (3–3)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1990 NYNEX Commemorative United States Mike Fetchick, United States Jimmy Powell,
United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez
Won with birdie on fifth extra hole
Powell and Rodríguez eliminated by birdie on first hole
2 1990 New York Life Champions United States Dale Douglass, United States Mike Hill Hill won with birdie on first extra hole
3 1993 Ping Kaanapali Classic United States George Archer, United States Dave Stockton Archer won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1994 Royal Caribbean Classic United States Kermit Zarley Won with par on fourth extra hole
5 1996 Emerald Coast Classic United States Bob Eastwood, Australia David Graham,
United States Mike Hill, United States Dave Stockton
Won with birdie on first extra hole
6 1997 Home Depot Invitational United States Jim Dent, United States Larry Gilbert Dent won with birdie on second extra hole
Gilbert eliminated by birdie on first hole

Other senior wins (10)

[edit]

Major championships

[edit]

Wins (6)

[edit]
Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner(s)-up
1968 U.S. Open 1 shot deficit −5 (69-68-69-69=275) 4 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
1971 U.S. Open (2) 4 shot deficit E (70-72-69-69=280) Playoff1 United States Jack Nicklaus
1971 The Open Championship 1 shot lead −14 (69-70-69-70=278) 1 stroke Taiwan Lu Liang-Huan
1972 The Open Championship (2) 1 shot lead −6 (71-70-66-71=278) 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
1974 PGA Championship 1 shot lead −4 (73-66-68-69=276) 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
1984 PGA Championship (2) 1 shot lead −15 (69-68-67-69=273) 4 strokes South Africa Gary Player, United States Lanny Wadkins

1Defeated Jack Nicklaus in 18-hole playoff; Trevino 68 (−2), Nicklaus 71 (+1).

Results timeline

[edit]
Tournament 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament T40 T19
U.S. Open T54 5 1 CUT
The Open Championship T34
PGA Championship T23 T48
Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Masters Tournament T33 T43 T10 T28 T14 T12
U.S. Open T8 1 T4 T4 CUT T29 T27 T12 T19
The Open Championship T3 1 1 T10 T31 T40 4 T29 T17
PGA Championship T26 T13 T11 T18 1 T60 CUT T13 T7 T35
Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
Masters Tournament T26 CUT T38 T20 43 T10 47 CUT CUT T18
U.S. Open T12 CUT CUT T9 CUT T4 CUT T40 CUT
The Open Championship 2 T11 T27 5 T14 T20 T59 T17 CUT T42
PGA Championship 7 DQ T14 1 2 T11 CUT CUT
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Masters Tournament T24 T49
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship T25 T17 T39 CUT CUT CUT
PGA Championship CUT
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary

[edit]
Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 0 0 2 8 20 17
U.S. Open 2 0 0 6 8 11 23 15
The Open Championship 2 1 1 6 7 14 26 22
PGA Championship 2 1 0 3 5 12 21 16
Totals 6 2 1 15 22 45 90 70
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 16 (1969 Open Championship – 1973 PGA)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (seven times)

The Players Championship

[edit]

Wins (1)

[edit]
Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner-up
1980 Tournament Players Championship 1 shot lead −10 (68-72-68-70=278) 1 stroke United States Ben Crenshaw

Results timeline

[edit]
Tournament 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
The Players Championship 18 T50 T17 WD T5 1 T12 DQ T68 2 T55 T21 CUT
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
DQ = disqualified
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Champions Tour major championships

[edit]

Wins (4)

[edit]
Year Championship Winning Score Margin Runner(s)-up
1990 U.S. Senior Open −13 (67–68–73–67=275) 2 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus
1992 The Tradition −14 (67–69–68–70=274) 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus
1992 PGA Seniors' Championship −10 (72–64–71–71=278) 1 stroke United States Mike Hill
1994 PGA Seniors' Championship (2) −9 (70–69–70–70=279) 1 stroke United States Jim Colbert

U.S. national team appearances

[edit]

Professional

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "20 Greatest Golfers of All Time (Updated)". Athlon Sports. June 11, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  2. ^ "Ranking Golf's Greatest Players Ever". Golf.about.com. August 29, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  3. ^ "Ranking the 25 Best American Golfers of All Time". Bleacher Report. October 9, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  4. ^ "5 Great Hispanic Golfers". Bleacher Report. September 15, 2010. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  5. ^ "Lee Trevino profile". Golf Legends. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012.
  6. ^ Trevino, Lee. "Lee Trevino ~ Interview With A Champion - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2020. (@1:02) I was born in Garland. I was born in the house.
  7. ^ "Lee Trevino: Golf". Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
  8. ^ "Lee Trevino: Golf Swing Analysis | Wayne DeFrancesco". Members.wayned.com. May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  9. ^ Yun, Hunki (August 30, 2011). "Golf and the military". USGA. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  10. ^ Kirkpatrick, Curry (December 20, 1971). "Sportsman of the year: a common man with an uncommon touch". Sports Illustrated. p. 34.
  11. ^ Jenkins, Dan (July 24, 1972). "Slamming The Door On Jack". Sports Illustrated.
  12. ^ "Nicklaus Misses Slam As Trevino Wins Open". The News and Courier. July 16, 1972. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  13. ^ Auclair, T.J. (February 6, 2018). "Winning on the PGA Tour with no bogeys over 72 holes is, well, rare". PGA of America.
  14. ^ "J.T. Poston delivers bogey-free performance in winning Wyndham title". Golf Channel. Associated Press. August 4, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  15. ^ Husar, John; Jauss, Bill (June 28, 1975). "Lightning fells 3 at Western Open". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, sec. 1.
  16. ^ "Trevino, two others survive lightning bolts". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. June 28, 1975. p. 1B.
  17. ^ Husar, John (June 29, 1975). "Heard may still play in Western". Chicago Tribune. p. 6, sec. 3.
  18. ^ "Trevino's survival a minor miracle". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. June 29, 1975. p. 1B.
  19. ^ McDermott, Barry (August 27, 1984). "It's an old man's game after all". Sports Illustrated. p. 28.
  20. ^ "Career Money Leaders – 1981". PGA Tour. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  21. ^ Stone, Peter (November 5, 1973). "Trevino wins... then upsets PGA". The Age. p. 28. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  22. ^ Parascenzo, Marino (April 7, 1989). "Trevino leads Masters by one shot". Pittsburgh Post-Gazettte. p. 13.
  23. ^ Hyman, Mark (April 7, 1989). "Invitation looks inviting now". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Baltimore Sun). p. 1B.
  24. ^ Hackenberg, Dave (April 7, 1989). "Augusta National suits Trevino to a tee, finally". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 11.
  25. ^ Andreu, Robbie (April 7, 1989). "Trevinno finally Masters Augusta". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (Fort Lauderdale News & Sun-Sentinel). p. C1.
  26. ^ Friedlander, Andy (April 7, 1989). "Unlikely leader Trevino cards 67". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. New York Times. p. 1B.
  27. ^ White, Gordon Jr. (April 7, 1989). "Wind forces high scores in first round of Masters". Herald-Journal. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  28. ^ White, Gordon Jr. (April 7, 1989). "Trevino, at the Age of 49, Shoots 67 to Lead the Masters". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  29. ^ a b "Lee Trevino refuses Masters tourney bid". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. March 7, 1970. p. 18.
  30. ^ Downey, Mike (April 7, 1989). "Like It or Not, Lee Trevino Is Master of the Masters for a Day". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  31. ^ "Past winners: 1968–1972: 1971 Winner". BBC Sport. November 27, 2003. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  32. ^ "Lee Trevino: 1971 and the invention of golf's Triple Crown". July 20, 2017.
  33. ^ Yocom, Guy (July 2000). "50 Greatest Golfers of All Time: And What They Taught Us". Golf Digest. Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  34. ^ Apfelbaum, Jim, ed. (2007). The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60239-014-0.
  35. ^ "Memorable Video Vignettes – 1971". USGA. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  36. ^ Carter, Bob. ""Merry Mex" was golf's showman". ESPN. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  37. ^ Crook, Jason (May 23, 2013). "Trevino wishes he hadn't done 'Happy Gilmore'". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  38. ^ Kelley, Brent. "Lee Trevino profile". About.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  39. ^ "Australian PGA Seniors Championship Winners List" (PDF). PGA Australia.

Further reading

[edit]

Hoobler, Dorothy and Thomas (1995). The Mexican American Family Album. New York: Oxford University Press. ASIN B004HOS1EC.

[edit]