The true Horatio Alger story. The man came from a dirt cottage with no running water and no electricity. His father took off, so his 65 year old grandfather supported the kids by digging graves by hand. Le was picking cotton, finding balls to sell, and helping pay for the family's baloney sandwiches by the time he was 7. He spent four years in the range, learned to work hard, fight, and drink. He didn't have the money to turn pro until he was 27, but once he did, he was not scared. He won six majors, 58 tournaments that were not majors, and 28 more on the Senior Tour. He has done more than any other poor Mexican kid in the history of the game. Viva Lee Trevino!
One of my favorite stories about Lee came from Paul Harvey ( radio): Raymond Floyd was a hot college golfer at the country club in Dallas that some rich members backed in a match against some other well to do people who played at the public coarse who said they had a guy who worked at the club house and range. Raymond shot a 5-under 67 in that match; which was good enough to lose by two strokes. The name of the guy who worked in the pro shop was Lee Trevino," now you know the rest of the story.". ( Paul's closing line in his radio show)
Trevino when on, was as good as ANYBODY in history. You said it so eloquently when you wrote Lee was not scared. A lot of guys had good golf games, but when it came down to the wire against Nicklaus, Player, etc., they stumbled a bit. Not Lee. He bested Jack a NUMBER of times when Jack played well. I also remember as a kid, loving Jack Nicklaus, and being heartbroken when Lee would dominate him when they were both just on the seniors tour. Lee was a killer when in contention, and in big moments he produced. I always admired that about him. Lastly, im not sure if there has ever been a better technician in terms of a golfer and their swing. Lee could work a ball left or right if needed, and could hit it high or low as well. I think thats part of the reason he was so good in the British, where he not only won, but defended his title, (SO difficult) but also tied for 17th as late as 91, when the guy was in his fifties. Remarkable. Ive heard stories hes not as friendly off camera as youd think, but ill always think of him as the Merry Mex. God bless Lee, I miss seeing him compete.
I was a high school summer vacation janitor at the Canterberry Country Club during a PGA tournament I was told to take a case of beer up the back stairs to the manager’s office. In the office I found Lee Trevino, Jack Nicholas, Arnold Palmer, and another player I didn’t know. When I set the case of beer down, Lee Trevino stood up, pulled a fiver out of his pocket and said, “Come on fellas, give the kid a tip.” I left with $20 and Lee Trevino will always be my favorite golfer for that.
'Before I won the US Open, I told jokes and nobody laughed. After won the US Open, I told the same jokes and everyone laughed like hell'. Lee Trevino 1968. This man is very special, brilliantly talented and so so wise.
Lee was once playing Jack Nicklaus in the 1989 Skins Game. Nicklaus on the 8th hole commented after misjudging a long putt that the eyesight was failing and at 49 years old, he was hearing that it was always the first thing to go. Trevino chirped, "No Jack, that's the second thing that goes." Laughter followed as everyone got the joke. At least the men did.
Truly one of the greatest because he was self taught and self motivated. Very rare to be born to poverty and pursue a rich man's game so relentlessly he beat all the rich men.
Someone asked Lee about the pressure of making or missing a putt on 18 that could mean the difference of $100,000. He answered ... I’m paraphrasing ... “Real pressure is making a putt that could make or lose you $50 when you don’t have $50 to lose.”
@@jefferytokarsky1930 I like that. My favourite sports quote about pressure came from Keith Miller, the Australian cricketer. He was a fighter pilot in WW2. Asked how he dealt with pressure of playing at the top level, he replied (I'm paraphrasing also), "That isn't pressure. Pressure is a Messerschmidt on your arse, trying to kill you."
Great guy, Lee Trevino. He told a story once about his wife's purse with a credit card in it being stolen and someone asked him if he was concerned about her credit card being taken and he replied "no, actually I'm relieved, because who ever took it can't possibly spend as much as my wife". lol.
I never enjoyed watching anybody play golf as much as I enjoyed watching Lee Trevino. Always the entertainer, whether he was on or off his game, it didn't matter. Lee Trevino was and is a marvel to watch play golf, and tell stories. God bless ya' Lee Buck Trevino!
Lee Trevino will always be my favourite player. Golf no longer has personalities it has robots. I was lucky to enjoy playing golf and watching the best & Lee was in great company - Jack, Arnold, Gary, Tom, Seve all giants of the sport.
Just like fellow Texan Ben Hogan, who also had a tough start in life. Golf is now boring. Highlight of this year's Open Championship, was the exhibition game at the beginning. Lee Trevino was brilliant.
Me too. I read an article years ago where the interviewer told Trevino that he is very likely the most famous and beloved golfer anywhere and asked what he though of that. He said: "Who told you that? No. No. Arnold Palmer is the absolute king, anybody else is fighting for a distant second place. More people watch Arnold Palmer put on his golf shoes in the parking lot than watch me play golf."
It called far too much money which makes them all into spoilt, self-entitled, arrogant c*nts, when all they do for the good of mankind is knock a small ball around a field.
Truly one of the greats of the game. Sad but his kind are a rare breed these days. I remember watching golf with my Dad in the 1950s and there were all kinds of characters like Trevino.
In an interview after winning the tournament by one stroke, the host asked Trevino why he laid up on the par 5 18th hole instead of playing a three-wood over the little lake. Lee said, "well, I wanted to go for the green in two like you suggest, but Mitchell (Lee's long time caddie) wouldn't give me the three wood." What a guy!
He was, without question one of the greatest ball strikers in the history of the sport. Played the most consistent fade, unfortunately that particular shot did not fare well at Augusta National.
I watched Lee at a tournament years ago in Fort Lauderdale and he hit a drive that just skirted by a fairway bunker on the left and was in perfect position. As we walked off the tee, he looked at me and said “that one scared the shit out of me.” Can’t imagine Nicklaus saying that or anyone else. What a joy he was to golf.
Still as sharp and as great as he always has been. Such wisdom here too. All my life I've never had a job I loved. Not ever, and it's all my fault as I was always too scared to test myself too far.
Saw Lee play at Silverado in Napa about 1968. He hit an average iron shot maybe fifteen feet from the hole. A lady in the gallery went on and on: "Great shot Lee! Great shot!" He turned and looked at her and said: "Lady I'm the U. S. Open champ! What do you expect? Ground balls?
Golf is fun to play, Lee and Arnie made it fun to watch. He Made shots, he didn't take shots. I don't enjoy watching as much as I use to because most of the good guys no longer play.
As a Mexican, Lee is an inspiration. He was denied a PGA card because he was Mexican and overcame racism and prejudice to become a golf icon and legend. He overcame spinal cord damage and still kicked ass! This man is the reason why I just started golf. I have spinal cord damage and was quadriplegic but can now play golf. Thanks, Lee for giving me hope.
@@Jerryemcse No; it neither makes me feel better, nor worse. It just remarkably illustrates how racist Americans are to other Americans, when that's what you all are. You've even had to downgrade him now to, 'Mexican American', when I pointed out that he was not a Mexican and is clearly 100% as much an American as all other Americans, by birth. Fortunately, I'm not American, so don't have to live in such a toxic and racist society..
@markpalmer8083 no, you don't understand American culture. You see Lee's ethnic heritage is something he is proud of, not something to diminish. You are right there is a lot racism in America and doesn't matter how successful you are. Lee was denied his PGA card many times, even though he was better than most of the pros. He was a marine and still because his color and ethnicity had to fight for all his chances at success.
@@markpalmer8083 What paradise do you live in where racism nor bigotry exist? Secondly, you claim that by saying someone is Mexican not Mexican-American that such description is a negative characterization, which inly demonstrates your inner bias and bigotry because Mexican and Mexican-American are simply descriptors of race or ethnicity; they are not pejorative words unless one believes a Mexican or Mexican-American is a lesser being. The inherent premise of your original question asking where Lee Trevino was born infers that to be an American, or more properly a natural born U.S. citizen, is of better status than to be a Mexican or Mexican- American. You, sir, bring inherent racism into this comment section and then dare to accuse others of prejudices. You would be better served by not judging others lest you be judged.
Golfers look better than anyone in their 80s. They play their whole lives and it's cardio plus their organs stay elastic. Hair thick and shiny. Skin tight and tan. Teeth strong and white. Posture upright. And he used to drink beer, but quit long ago. And sharp as a tack -- cognitively he's lost literally nothing.
Just today (March 23, 2023) I had read that the latest is that golfers outlive non-golfers by about 5 years. Oops, I gotta go, got a t-time in an hour. All the Best Dean Seattle
I remember golfing at The Bear in Acme, MI (Jack Nicklaus place)and hitting second shot into a DEEP greenside bunker (i think hole 14) where you get down into the bunker by railroad tie steps on the backside. I scuffed the first shot & left in in the bunker. I was steaming hot by then and took a big cut , lofting it high and stopped 5 feet from the hole. I hear someone say "nice shot" (apparently he didn't see the first one 😅 ) I turn and look and it's lee Trevino walking down the cart path toward the next hole ! I was gobsmacked- played terrible from then on , must have shot 100......
My favorite story about him came from Paul Harvey who did a daily show on the radio. Some wealthy members of the Dallas country club were backing Raymond Floyd ( hottest college golfer in the country at the time) in a match against some other rich gentlemen who played at the public coarse who were backing " a Mexican kid who worked in the pro shop ". That day Raymond shot a 5-under 67; which was good enough to lose by 2 strokes. The name of the Mexican kid was Lee Trevino. " Now you know the rest of the story. " ( Paul's closing line) In Lee's day first place paid $25,000 and second paid $15,000. A reporter asked him about the pressure on a $10,000 putt. Lee replied " That's no pressure. Pressure is playing for $5 a hole with $2 in your pocket. "
Saw Trevino a few times at the Canaian Open at Glen Abbey. The other players would stay as far away as possible from Lee on the Practice Range because he would be constantly talking to the crowd and it bothered them but the Fans loved it and he was the Fan Favourite by far. Truly one of a kind. Lee, Chi Chi and Arnie are my all time Golf Favourites.
Back then I could recognize the PGA players from their own individual swing, nowadays most are very similar. Evolution of the golf swing has made it more efficient.
Back then, The Canadian Open, was almost a major. Nicklaus tried but never won it. Now the PGA has degraded the Canadian Open to a B tourney on the PGA tour. Sad
I recall stories of Lee hustling golf games prior to his getting on tour. He would play with 3 clubs of his choosing and play even up against very good players. Won most of those and won a lot of bets.
My wife worked at the Toronto Hilton Airport & checked in Mr. Trevino in 1976. She described him as a kind wonderful person. He gave her a mini-Sombrero that he carried for good luck - we still have ii! Well, that good luck played into him winning the Canadian Open that year.
Been to a couple tournaments and been around Lee. There are 2 Lee Trevinos. One with cameras on him, one with cameras off. One is very social and gracious, the other not so much.
I've been to lotsa tournaments and Lee's the only pro that was outgoing and friendly at all. I'm 80 so I started going to watch all the big names back in the late '50's and everyone of them was a jerk, but Trevino came along 10 years later and he seemed pretty decent to me - sorry you had a bad experience with him - I never did.
and yet when Hogan came out with new clubs for the year he always told the club guys get "that Mexican kid" to test them out. Hogan knew Lee was a great ball striker. Jack even said Lee was the best ball striker he had ever seen. He also said Lee was his toughest opponent to beat.
Augusta and Lee never mixed. Lee doesn't like the snobbery at the club and always resented the way he was treated. Perhaps, Fred Ridley could convince him to come back to the club and it would be a good idea if he was Jim Nantz's partner in the booth. Trevino knows Augusta probably better than anyone.
His story re 'not even God can hit a 1 iron' always amuses me and those hearing it for the first time..........a gem of a guy, a real champion and character.
My favourite story was Lee commenting on a £25,000 putt as a “pressure” putt. “No” he said. A pressure putt is for £10 when you’ve only got £5 in your pocket!
Contrast Lee Trevino with Cassius Clay. The 'Louisville Lip' would have faded into obscurity after just one loss. Mr. Trevino seems to have retained a humble sense of proportionality while projecting a similar sense of 'showmanship' in promoting an 'every person' sport.
One of the main reasons I basically quit watching the PGA golf a few years back, NO PERSONALITIES like Lee Travino !!! THE GUYS today just don't get it , they are entertainers and they all look the same talk the same and swing the same . Been watching the PGA since I was 8 years old and grew up watching the best back then !!!
I remember when he beat Tony Jackson, in the '72 british open, luckily holing out shots , from all over the place. Afterwards, he was praising jacking for his play, saying he should have won, and said, "I am lucky to have won, God must be a Mexican "
I followed Lee in an early Florida Citrus invitational at Rio Pinar because my Dad was paired with him in the pro-am. On a windy day, long par three Lee teed up and bent down and brushed away the invisible bumps in the grass in the driveline. He turned and told the crowd that he was gonna have to hit this one low into the wind! Brokers up. Funny, fun guy.
Lees personality was cheerful and comedic when he was playing well... but I witnessed him angry and short tempered if he wasn't in contention...I still admire his accomplishments and was a great fan
I saw that to at Tampa. It was so bad that I think the tour talked to him about it after the round. That's because the next day he never opened his mouth for the entire round. I've also seen him when he was a genuine entertainer as well.
I stood and watched him warm up before his third round at the 84 Open and he never hit a shot over 15 feet in the air with efery club he pulled out of the bag, amazing ball striker and shot maker, never seen anyone since who could match him and on top of that his sense of humour matches him perfectly. Thanks for all the memories Lee and God bless you 👏👏
This guy was very rude to my father. My dad thought the world of him but at the colonial my father was watching him hit balls after his round and asked him for his autograph to which Trevino said my father “old man can’t you see I’m practicing” my dad was in his seventies and was devastated by his hateful comment. So I have never cared for Trevino after him being so ugly to my dad.
