The first golfer to break 70 in all four rounds of a U.S. Open, Lee Trevino emerged from a childhood in the Texas cotton fields to reach the apex of professional sport. His unorthodox swing, honed on wind-swept, grassless ground during his youth as a caddie, propelled him to six major championships and 29 PGA Tour victories.
Formative Years and Military Service
Born in Garland, Texas, in 1939, Trevino was raised by his mother, Juanita, and grandfather, Joe, a gravedigger. He left school at age 14 to work as a caddie and shoe shiner at the Dallas Athletic Club, earning 30 dollars per week. During this period, he refined his game on three short practice holes, developing a signature low, controlled fade that became his trademark. In December 1956, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving four years as a machine gunner and playing golf in Asia before his discharge in 1960.
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After transitioning to a role as a club professional in El Paso, Trevino utilized high-stakes gambling matches to sharpen his competitive edge. He made his breakthrough at the 1967 U.S. Open, finishing fifth to secure tour privileges. By 1968, he won the U.S. Open at Oak Hill Country Club, establishing himself as a premier talent. He maintained a streak of at least one tour victory per year from 1968 through 1981.
The 1971 Triple Victory
Trevino achieved a unprecedented run in the summer of 1971, winning the U.S. Open, the Canadian Open, and The Open Championship within a 20-day span. This performance earned him the Associated Press Athlete of the Year award, the Hickok Belt, and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year honors. He later defended his Open Championship title at Muirfield in 1972, notably holing out multiple shots from off the green during the tournament.
Major Championships and Longevity
Trevino’s final major victory occurred at the 1984 PGA Championship at age 44, where he shot a 15-under-par 273. Despite suffering spinal injuries after being struck by lightning at the 1975 Western Open, he remained competitive into the 1980s. Throughout his career, he secured six major titles and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. He also found significant success on the senior circuit, claiming 29 senior wins.
Fast facts
- Born: 1939, Dallas, Texas
- PGA Tour wins: 29
- Major championships: 6
- World Golf Hall of Fame induction: 1981
- Marine Corps service: 1956-1960
- 1971 Associated Press Athlete of the Year
- Known as: The Merry Mex, Supermex
Questions readers ask
Which major championship did Lee Trevino never win?
The Masters Tournament is the only major championship that eluded him during his career.
What unique record did Trevino set at the 1968 U.S. Open?
He became the first player to break 70 in all four rounds of a U.S. Open tournament.
