Golf Alarab · Player profile
Lee Trevino
A self-made shotmaker whose six majors reshaped the possibilities of a champion.
From caddying and working at a driving range in east Dallas to winning six major championships, Lee Trevino built one of golf’s most distinctive careers. His accuracy, imagination and quick humour made him a champion admired well beyond the scorecard.
From early promise to the professional game
The turning points that shaped a distinctive career.
Lee Buck Trevino was born in Dallas, Texas, on 1 December 1939. Raised in modest circumstances, he began around golf as a child caddie and later worked at a driving range. He served four years in the United States Marine Corps, playing golf during service before returning to Texas and pursuing professional competition.
Trevino turned professional in 1960 and established himself on the PGA TOUR during the late 1960s. His breakthrough arrived at the 1968 U.S. Open at Oak Hill, where he won by four strokes. The victory announced a player whose repeatable ball-striking and fearless temperament could stand up to the strongest fields.
The defining stretch came in 1971. Trevino won the U.S. Open at Merion, the Canadian Open and The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in a remarkable run, and was named PGA Player of the Year. He retained The Open title in 1972, then added PGA Championship victories in 1974 and 1984. His six majors comprise two U.S. Opens, two Open Championships and two PGA Championships; he never won the Masters.
Across his PGA TOUR career Trevino recorded 29 official victories, five Vardon Trophies for scoring average and six Ryder Cup appearances as a player. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. After turning 50, he remained a major force in senior golf, showing that his feel and touch translated across generations.
Defining achievement
The extraordinary 1971 season
Trevino won the U.S. Open, Canadian Open and Open Championship in a short span during 1971. The run, completed with a second U.S. Open title at Merion and his first Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale, established him as one of the game’s central figures.
Career timeline
The seasons, titles and milestones that define the record.
Turns professional
Begins his professional golf career.
First U.S. Open
Wins at Oak Hill by four strokes.
A remarkable triple
Wins the U.S. Open, Canadian Open and The Open in one summer.
Defends The Open
Retains the Open Championship title.
First PGA Championship
Adds the first of two PGA Championship titles.
THE PLAYERS
Wins the 1980 PLAYERS Championship.
Hall of Fame
Enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Sixth major
Wins his second PGA Championship.
Signature achievements
Documented milestones from across the player’s career.
Major record
Six majors
Two U.S. Opens, two Open Championships and two PGA Championships.
PGA TOUR
29 victories
A 29-win record built through precision and creativity.
U.S. Open
1968 and 1971
Won at Oak Hill and Merion, two different tests of championship golf.
The Open
1971 and 1972
Won consecutive Open Championships at Royal Birkdale and Muirfield.
PGA Championship
1974 and 1984
His two PGA titles came a decade apart.
World Golf Hall of Fame
1981
Recognised for a career that combined competitive success with exceptional character.
Playing style and legacy
What distinguished the player and how the career shaped the sport.
Trevino’s compact, repeatable swing and trademark fade were built around control rather than textbook aesthetics. He could shape shots under pressure and recover from awkward lies, qualities especially useful in major championship golf.
His wit made him a favourite with galleries, but it was the substance of his game that secured his legacy. Six majors, 29 PGA TOUR victories and a career that crossed from the modern tour to senior golf make him a singular figure in American golf history.
