Lee Trevino

As a young boy, Lee Trevino's introduction to golf involved searching for stray balls in a field near his modest home, a small wooden house lacking basic amenities like electricity and plumbing.

With no other options, Trevino's determination propelled him forward. Through relentless effort, he transformed himself into a successful individual, mastering a sport that demanded his utmost dedication.

Lee Buck Trevino, born in 1939 in Dallas, was brought up by his mother and grandfather. He dropped out of school after eighth grade to support his family financially, taking up a job at a par-3 golf course.

Following a four-year stint in the Marine Corps, Trevino went back to working at the par-3 course and a driving range.

However, he earned more by betting on his own golf skills, often using unconventional methods. One of his most famous tricks involved hitting shots with the wide end of a taped Dr Pepper bottle and putting with the narrow end, mimicking a pool cue.

As his skills with real clubs grew, so did the stakes and the level of competition. In the early 1960s, Raymond Floyd, a well-known golfer who enjoyed high-stakes matches, faced off against Trevino in Texas. Floyd left the match poorer, relieved to escape the unknown Mexican-American with tattoos, whose precise putting and fearless demeanor left a lasting impression. Floyd, like many others on the Tour, would encounter Trevino again.

Early in his career, Trevino struggled with a traditional swing that failed under pressure, causing him to hook the ball. Inspired by watching Ben Hogan practice, Trevino admired Hogan's consistent left-to-right fade and spent five years developing his own version of it.

Though his swing looked nothing like Hogan's due to his stocky build, Trevino achieved the same results—and more. Widely regarded as the best ball-striker since Hogan, Trevino once couldn't recall the last time he hit a ball out of bounds, a testament to his precision.

Trevino began his professional career in 1960 but never joined the PGA of America, which barred him from qualifying for the Tour, then managed by the organization. Instead, he competed in open events, securing a victory at the fiercely contested Texas State Open in 1965.

During his debut at the 1966 U.S. Open, Trevino made the cut and placed 54th. He spent his time practicing, offering lessons at an El Paso club as an assistant pro, and hustling on the golf course to support his expanding family with his first wife. It was her idea for Trevino to participate in the 1967 U.S. Open, held in New Jersey.

Trevino managed to gather some funds, lived frugally far from Baltusrol G.C., and made a name for himself outside Texas by finishing an impressive fifth in the championship.

With the $6,000 he earned and a performance that granted him entry into subsequent Tour events that year, Trevino added another $20,000 to his earnings. This financial and competitive boost positioned him to make his mark in major-league professional golf, quickly becoming a sensation.

At the 1968 U.S. Open, Trevino remained near the top of the leaderboard for three rounds. He sealed his victory by sinking two remarkable birdie putts, totaling 55 feet, on the 65th and 66th holes.

Trevino made history by becoming the first golfer to win the U.S. Open with all four rounds in the 60s. His exceptional skill, paired with his sharp humor and charismatic personality, made him a crowd favorite.

Between 1968 and 1984, Trevino secured 27 victories on the PGA Tour, including a second U.S. Open title in a playoff against Jack Nicklaus and two PGA Championships, the last of which he won at age 44.

Even a lightning strike couldn't halt his success. During the 1975 Western Open, Trevino, along with Jerry Heard and Bobby Nichols, was struck by lightning. Despite this, at 36, he bounced back to win nine more PGA Tour events, including his second PGA Championship (his sixth major), and added 26 Senior Tour victories between 1990 and 1995.

In late 1995, Trevino underwent major back surgery, which involved inserting a permanent plate through his neck to fuse spinal disks.

His back issues may have been partly caused by the lightning strike, but they were more likely the result of years of relentless practice, hitting hundreds of balls daily.

Years of relentless effort eventually took their toll, but by that time, the once-impoverished boy had transformed into a multimillionaire and one of the most celebrated and beloved figures in the history of golf.

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