Lee Trevino’s career post-1975

[golferdude54]

If Lee Trevino had never gotten struck by lightning in the 1975 Western Open, would he have won more than one major after 1975, that being the 1984 PGA?

He had already won 5 majors between 1968 and 1974, including both Open’s in 1971 and led the tour in scoring average multiple seasons up to that point. Not to mention he became the first golfer to play an entire 72 hole PGA Tour event without a bogey in the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open, missing only 3 greens out of 72 in regulation.

 

In my opinion, Jack doesn’t get to 18 with Lee still in his prime.

[rd1959]

30 minutes ago, golferdude54 said:

If Lee Trevino had never gotten struck by lightning in the 1975 Western Open, would he have won more than one major after 1975, that being the 1984 PGA?

He had already won 5 majors between 1968 and 1974, including both Open’s in 1971 and led the tour in scoring average multiple seasons up to that point. Not to mention he became the first golfer to play an entire 72 hole PGA Tour event without a bogey in the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open, missing only 3 greens out of 72 in regulation.

 

In my opinion, Jack doesn’t get to 18 with Lee still in his prime.

You might be right.

[Bigarch]

He had 4 more "Gary Player Majors" on the Senior Tour 🤣

[BIG STU]

Growing up Nicklaus Trevino and Seve were my favorites-- I am not going to speculate but you have given some serious food for thought

[Foozle]

I loved watching Trevino, one of the best ball strikers ever and an immense natural talent. I have no doubt he could have won more majors but who he would have denied and whether that would have included Jack is more speculative. Certainly Jack added 2 majors, presumably unopposed by Trevino,  in 1975 to the 12 he already held at the time of Trevino's accident but the most prolific major winner from 1975 on was Tom Watson who won 8 in 9 years. Jack "only(!)" added 4 more in the 11 years from '76 to '86.

We will never know whose record Trevino could have spoiled but can agree what a joy he was to watch.

[oz dee cee]

Interesting topic. What happened to Trevino after the strike though? Did he lose his game? Feeling? Touch? I actually did not know this occurred 

[mubob1977]

This is a really interesting question. I don’t think there’s any doubt that Trevino likely would have won more majors had he not been hit by lightning in 1975. That really contributed to his back problems and derailed his career to a certain extent. Based on what Nicklaus has said about Trevino being perhaps his toughest competitor, and with Trevino’s play in the early 70s against Nicklaus when Nicklaus was his very best, I don’t think it’s out of the question that Trevino could have taken a major or two away from Nicklaus. 

 

He did have several high finishes in majors after 1975, including a 2nd place at the 1980 Open. He also was in contention at the 1983 Open and even the 1984 Open into the third round. In addition to his PGA win in 1984, he also contended at the 1985 PGA and came really close at the 1986 US Open at Shinnecock. Had he won that US Open, what a year 1986 would have been with Nicklaus at the Masters and then Trevino at the US Open!

[mocokid]

Off course he had issues with his managers, wife, etc.  Not easy times, intense media interest, etc.

[NRJyzr]

Personally, I say yes, he'd have won more.  I've seen reports suggesting his putting was considerably different, post-lightning strike.

 

Also, Trevino's fade in the 77 Open Championship was attributed by some to the lightning that interrupted play...

 

 

[DoughBack18]

He has been struck by lightning 3 times! That guy is 1 in billion, one of the best!

[Fourhunyds]

Sorry Im getting to this late, but I had to comment on this. First of all, I was on the couse that day. It was one of those midwestern storms that come in real quick. Fortunately , I and my buddies were a few holes away when that happened. My recollection of it was the Jerry Heard was hit in the groin, and was the most injured. He and Bobby Nichols were never really factors again after that incident. If you'll recall, Trevino's career went downhill for some time afterward. I remember reading that, after consulting with many Drs. trying to find out the cause for all his problem, one Dr discovered the fluid in his spine had been damaged to the point there was little fluid left in the spine. He had some radical surgery to open up the fluid in the spine. It worked, and he was able to win again. I always admired him. He was self taught, had a funky action, used about the worst equipment on tour, but he could repeat that action, and almost always put the ball in play. Plus his ball striking was 2nd only to Hogan.

 

Fast forward to 1987. I Made a hole in one at #14 at La Costa in Sept. of that year (my only one). Coming off of the 15th, tee I saw a familiar figure walking towards our group. I t was Lee Trevino! He used to have a condo out there. In a cloud, I walked right past him. One of my buddies stopped him, told him what happened, and he yelled over, " were you aiming for it"? I said yes, it was a good shot 190 yds (4 iron). So my scorecard is attested by my playing partner, and Lee Trevino. Its up on my wall forever.

[mubob1977]

What do you mean he used the worst equipment on tour? I don’t get that at all.

[BIG STU]

7 hours ago, mubob1977 said:

What do you mean he used the worst equipment on tour? I don’t get that at all.

Rally what I think he is referring to is he played some odd ball older stuff compaired to others. One thing was his 6 wood which he sorta invented and Bert Dargie built. Sorta an odd ball in those times as it was the forerunner of the modern hybrid. I can remember and I saw this myself at a clinic in the late 60s he carried a perhaps 25 year old Spalding Dynamiter SW covered in Lead tape. He was a club tinkerer and messed with his own stuff. Putters he would try anything that he could make a putt with. He did endorse Faultless clubs for a while which some considered "inferior" compared to Wilson Spalding Mac etc. I do know for a long time he endorsed and played Spalding equipment too

[naval2006]

I didn't know that the 1975 incident was a turning point for the worse in Trevino's career.  He had back problems often but I thought it was only because of his particular swing.  There must also be this 10 year span that most great players have in golf and after that time their careers start to fade away.  Golf is a real mistery in that sense.  Great thread about one of my favourite players ever. 

 

 

[mocokid]

No way he played faultless or Rawlings, he hand selected Forged heads in Australia for one or 2 of his majors, woods were powerbilt or Mac (fire pin insert) before Taylor made metal driver he could hit off the deck.

[Shallowface]

Years ago I saw a picture of Lee at the end of his swing with a driver and it had a Faultless soleplate on it.  That said, it looked like an EOM 60 with a Faultless soleplate on it and I figured that's exactly what it was.

 

He actually did play the Spalding gear when he was with them, even the very oversized XL2000 irons.  He also invented the Intimidator 400 metal woods with a soleplate that got very thick toward the rear of the club,  It's said he took one of Spalding's standard metal woods and added a bunch of Bondo to the sole to construct the prototype.

 

When Deane Beman took over as commissioner of the Tour one of the first things he did was crack down on players endorsing one brand and playing another.  Powerbilt used to run ads with a picture of a Citation driver with two band aids crossed over the Citation decal on the crown.  The ad said something like, "You know us.  We're the famous Brand X."