Six majors, 29 PGA Tour victories, and a swing he taught himself on the driving ranges of Texas: Lee Trevino, a master of ball control, shares his club selection, his low-flying ball, and his short game.
Lee Trevino He taught himself to play golf on the driving ranges of Texas, and went on to win six major championships. A two-time winner of the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship, he remains one of the greatest ball-strikers in history—and one of the funniest. Here is his biography, his list of achievements, and a summary of his video lessons.
Who is Lee Trevino?
Lee Trevino is an American golfer of Mexican descent, born on December 1, 1939, in Texas. He is entirely self-taught. As a young caddie at the Dallas Athletic Club, he hit balls on the three small holes reserved for caddies, then became the protégé of Hardy Greenwood, the owner of a driving range in Dallas. After four years in the Marines, he turned pro in 1960.
On the course, he’s known for his constant chatter and cheerful disposition, which have earned him the nicknames “Merry Mex” and “Supermex.” This showman delights the spectators.
His first title was a sensational achievement: at the 1968 U.S. Open at Oak Hill, he became the first player to shoot under 70 in all four rounds of the tournament, and finished ahead of Jack Nicklaus in four strokes. The year 1971 was historic: in about twenty days, he won the U.S. Open at Merion—in a playoff against Nicklaus—the Canadian Open, and the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
He defended his Open title in 1972 at Muirfield, then won the PGA Championship in 1974 and 1984—at age 44—beating Gary Player and Lanny Wadkins. Nicklaus finished second behind him four times in major championships. From 1968 to 1981, he won at least one PGA Tour event every season—fourteen years in a row. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981 and went on to win another 29 tournaments on the senior tour.
Lee Trevino's Career Highlights
| Tournament or Record | Result |
|---|---|
| Major Tournaments | 6: 1968 and 1971 U.S. Open, 1971 and 1972 Open Championship, 1974 and 1984 PGA Championship |
| PGA Tour Victories | 29, with at least one win per season from 1968 to 1981 |
| 1971 Triple Crown | The U.S. Open, the Canadian Open, and The Open Championship in the same year—a first |
| Senior Circuit | 29 victories, including 4 majors: the 1990 U.S. Senior Open, The Tradition in 1992, and the PGA Seniors’ Championship in 1992 and 1994 |
| Vardon Trophy (lowest scoring average) | 5: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1980 |
| Ryder Cup | 6 appearances as a player (1969–1981); U.S. captain in 1985 |
| Awards | Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Year, 1971; World Golf Hall of Fame, 1981 |
Lee Trevino's Game: What We Can Learn from His Lessons
Face Control According to Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino’s entire golf game boils down to one idea: you don’t have one clubface—you have three. The clubface, the back of the left hand, and the palm of the right hand must remain aligned, and the body serves as the driving force. To curve the ball, he doesn’t change his swing: he adjusts the ball’s position—moving it forward for a draw and back toward his right foot for a fade. Controlling the Clubface: Lee Trevino's Lesson on the Driving Range. His right hand and right forearm act as a steering wheel: by changing their position on the grip, he chooses the spin and covers the ball to hit it low. Lee Trevino: Changing Your Right Hand to Curve or Drop the Ball.
Lee Trevino's low shot
At the PNC Championship driving range, he shows Charlie Woods, the son of Tiger Woods, his low shot that rolls far downwind: hands held well forward, kept there until the very end so as not to push the ball. Lee Trevino shows Charlie Woods how to hit a low ball downwind.
Lee Trevino's Short Game
Around the green, the club always follows the line of the feet. With a narrow, open stance and shoulders aligned, he avoids “forcing” his backswing and eliminates shanks, from chips to bunker shots. Open Stance for Chipping and Bunker Shots: Lee Trevino's Alignment. On a 35-yard pitch, stand back from the ball, keep your hands above your shoes, and let your left hip drive the club: sweep the ball; don't “smash” it. Lee Trevino's 35-yard pitch: ball set back, hands forward.
Lee Trevino, instructor on the driving range
He advises seniors to get into position and tuck in their left shoulder, because as we age, we turn our heads less and open up too early: Lee Trevino on seniors: Get the right equipment and keep your left shoulder closed. At the AmFam Championship, he finally improvised a lesson for a Symetra Tour player: Lee Trevino's impromptu lesson for a Symetra Tour player.
Lee Trevino's Best Lessons by Topic
- Shot Shapes and Clubface Control (draw or fade, Grip): Controlling the Clubface: Lee Trevino's Lesson on the Driving Range, Lee Trevino: Changing Your Right Hand to Curve or Drop the Ball.
- A Short Game and a Bunker (wedge play, pitching, and chipping, Pitch Shots, Bunker shot, Alignment): Open Stance for Chipping and Bunker Shots: Lee Trevino's Alignment, Lee Trevino's 35-yard pitch: ball set back, hands forward.
- Low ball and wind (irons, Hazards and Trouble Shots): Lee Trevino shows Charlie Woods how to hit a low ball downwind.
- Seniors (Special for Seniors): Lee Trevino on seniors: Get the right equipment and keep your left shoulder closed.
- Swing (Swing and Swing Plane): Lee Trevino's impromptu lesson for a Symetra Tour player.
See also the fact sheets on Jack Nicklaus, his main rival in the majors and Tom Watson, another legend of his time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lee Trevino: Career Highlights, Ball Control, and Golf Lessons on Video
How old is Lee Trevino?
Lee Trevino was born on December 1, 1939, in Texas; he is 86 years old.
How many major tournaments has Lee Trevino won?
Six: the U.S. Open in 1968 and 1971, the Open Championship in 1971 and 1972, and the PGA Championship in 1974 and 1984.
How did Lee Trevino learn to play golf?
Alone. As a caddie at the Dallas Athletic Club, he used to hit balls into the small holes in the caddies' bags; then he became the protégé of Hardy Greenwood, the owner of a driving range in Dallas.
What did Lee Trevino do in 1971?
In about 20 days, he won the U.S. Open, the Canadian Open, and the Open Championship: he is the first to achieve this triple crown in the same year.
Did Lee Trevino win the Masters?
No. It's the only one of the four majors missing from his record, which includes two U.S. Opens, two British Opens, and two PGA Championships.
Why is Lee Trevino nicknamed “Merry Mex”?
For his cheerful disposition and constant chatter on the course, which have made him one of the crowd's favorite players.
How many tournaments has Lee Trevino won on the senior tour?
29, including four senior majors: the 1990 U.S. Senior Open, The Tradition in 1992, and the PGA Seniors' Championship in 1992 and 1994.
