Lee Trevino, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, won six majors and 29 PGA Tour events in his legendary career. He was born on Dec. 1, 1939.
Trevino is certainly one of the most unlikely multiple-major winners the sport has ever seen. After growing up poor in Texas and working in cotton fields from the age of 5, Trevino learned the game by sneaking onto courses to play and then caddying. He built his nerve in high-stakes gambling games and during a four-year stint in the U.S. Marine Corps as a machine gunner.
He built a repeatable push-fade that led to him becoming one of the most accurate ballstrikers of all time, even if he didn’t have the power of adversaries such as Jack Nicklaus or Tom Weiskopf.
After breaking through for his first Tour win and major title at the 1968 U.S. Open at Oak Hill, where he beat Nicklaus by four shots, he went on to win the 1971 U.S. Open at Merion (beating Nicklaus in a playoff); the British Open in 1971 (Royal Birkdale) and 1972 (Muirfield, beating Nicklaus by a shot); and the PGA Championship in 1974 (Tanglewood, again beating Nicklaus by a shot) and 1984 (Shoal Creek).
Affectionately known as the Merry Mex, Trevino was a fearsome competitor who loved to talk during rounds, frequently carrying on one-sided conversations with the galleries. He was the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year in 1971; won the Vardon Trophy (lowest scoring average) in 1970, ’71, ’72, ’74 and ’80; and was the Tour’s leading money winner in 1970. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981.
Here’s a look at his career in photos:
Lee Trevino reacts after he birdied the fourth hole in the third round of the U.S.…Lee Trevino wears a marshal's hat as he plays in the rough with a hatchet and…Lee Trevino reacts after defeating Jack Nicklaus in an 18-hole extra round play to win the…Lee Trevino during the 1968 U.S. Open at Oak Hill.Lee Trevino jubilates after he sank a birdie putt on the 12th green during the playoff…Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino walk off the 18th green at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore,…Jack Nicklaus, left, walks off the 18th green at Pebble Beach with Lee Trevino, the man…First to congratulate Jack Nicklaus on his victory in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach was…Lee Trevino reacts to another birdie on the 380 yard par four 12th hole in the…Lee Trevino is congratulated by Bert Yancey on the 18th green after sinking his final putt…Lee Trevino holds his trophy cup after winning the title of the 68th U.S. Open golf…Lee Trevino reacts to a birdie putt on the 11th hole in third round of the…Lee Trevino kisses the British Open Golf Championship cup after he won the title for the…Lee Trevino sticks his tongue out at the ball as he misses a putt for a…Lee Trevino, winner of the 1968 open, clowns around on the 3rd fairway of the Country…Lee Trevino hits a few balls after the conclusion of play at the Houston Greats of…Lee Trevino shows off his trophy at the British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.…Lee Trevino hoists the trophy after winning the 1984 PGA Championship at the Shoal Creek Country…Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennslvania, for the 1971 U.S.…Lee Trevino at the Piccadilly World Match Play Championship at the Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey,…A plaque commemorating Lee Trevino's hole-in-one in the 1987 Skins Game is viewable from near the…Dave Marr,Lee Trevino,Tom Kite, Bill Rogers, Larry Nelson, Ben Crenshaw, Bruce Lietzke,Jerry Pate, Hale Irwin, Johnny…Lee Trevino bites into a ball during the first round of the PNC Championship golf tournament…Vin Scully alongside Lee Trevino during an NBC telecast of the PGA Tour. (Photo: Jeff McBride/PGA…Rory McIlroy, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods during the R&A Celebration of Champions four-hole…Winner of The Open in 2014, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (L) England's Georgia Hall (2nd L),…Lee Trevino, inducted 1981. (Photo: Adam Schupak/Golfweek)Lee Trevino watches putt at Augusta National Golf Course during the 1982 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File…Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino and Gary Player at Augusta National Golf Course during the 1982 Masters.…Lee Trevino at the Augusta National Golf Course during the 1976 Masters. (Photo: The Augusta Chronicle…Lee Trevino signs autographs at the Augusta National Golf Club during the 1976 Masters. (Photo: The…Lee Trevino during the 1973 PGA Tour season. (Photo: Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY)Lee Trevino at the 1961 Los Angeles Open at Rancho Golf Course. (Photo: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY)Lee Trevino and Raymond Floyd on Saturday at the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz Carlton…Lee Trevino at the Yamaha booth during the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.Lee Trevino on Saturday at the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz Carlton Golf Club of…Lee Trevino on Saturday at the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz Carlton Golf Club of…Lee TrevinoLee TrevinoLee Trevino (right) and Gary Player entertain the gallery with antics of the past on the…Tiger Woods and Lee Trevino during the R&A Celebration of Champions four-hole challenge at the 150th…Lee Trevino (left) and Rory McIlroy shake hands on the 18th green during the Celebration of…
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