A hugely charismatic and popular figure, Lee Trevino is one of only seven players since World War II to have claimed back-to-back victories at the Open Championship.
Trevino was a relative latecomer to the professional game and did not play in golf’s original championship until age 29, making his debut at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1969.
However, “Super Mex†swiftly adapted to links conditions. He led by two shots heading into the final round at St Andrews the following year, before slipping back into a tie for third behind eventual winner Jack Nicklaus and Doug Sanders.
Trevino was not to be denied 12 months later as he rounded off a stunning summer of success by winning the Open at Royal Birkdale.
Having won the U.S. Open and Canadian Open in the previous three weeks, Trevino continued his golden run by edging out playing competitor Lu Liang-Huan in a thrilling final round.
Trevino then retained the Claret Jug in audacious fashion at Muirfield in 1972, chipping in with remarkable regularity to snatch victory from Tony Jacklin and leave the Englishman disconsolate.
Trevino had his career disrupted in alarming fashion in 1975 when he was struck by lightning and suffered injuries to his spine. Although he was hampered by back problems thereafter, Trevino still was able to compete at the very highest level and he finished second to Tom Watson at the Open in 1980 before claiming his sixth and final major title, at the 1984 PGA Championship, aged 44.
Even after turning 50, Trevino continued to impress at the Open, finishing tied for 25th at St Andrews in 1990 and joint-17th at Royal Birkdale the following year.
The last of his 26 appearances in the championship – and he made the cut in 22 of the first 23 – came at the Home of Golf in 2000, 30 years after he had led through 54 holes at the same venue.
To view Lee Trevino’s full record at the Open, click HERE.
The R&A
