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Lee Trevino

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Lee Trevino is one of the greatest professional golfers in history.

President Ronald Reagan Playing Golf with Golf Pros Lee Trevino and Tom Watson at The Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage California C51345-9
President Ronald Reagan Playing Golf with Golf Pros Lee Trevino and Tom Watson at The Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage California C51345-9

He was a famous star on the PGA Tour. Other golfers often gave him kind nicknames like "the Merry Mex" or "Supermex." These names showed how much people liked his personality. He won six major championships during his long career. He also won 29 different PGA Tour events. Because of his great skill, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981.

Trevino's unique way of playing golf came from his hard childhood. He grew up in Garland, Texas, in a family of Mexican ancestry. As a young boy, he worked in cotton fields to help his family. He later worked as a caddie and a shoe shiner. He practiced his golf shots on "Texas hardpan," which is very hard ground with little grass. This tough practice helped him create a very special and compact swing. He became famous for a controlled shot called a "fade." He was also known as one of the finest shot-makers ever.

Before he became a golf star, Trevino served in the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Marines in December 1956 when he turned 17. He served for four years as a machine gunner. He was discharged as a corporal in December 1960. During his time in the military, he played golf with Marine Corps officers. He even played successfully in golf events in Asia. These early years helped prepare him for his professional life.

His professional career was full of amazing wins and big numbers. In 1968, he won the U.S. Open at Oak Hill Country Club. He was the first player to shoot under 70 in all four rounds of a U.S. Open. In 1971, he had a very busy summer of winning. He won the U.S. Open, the Canadian Open, and The Open Championship. He was the first player to win those three titles in one year. He also won the PGA Championship five times in total. In 1984, he won his sixth major at age 44.

Trevino is remembered for his humor and his kindness to others. He often told jokes to the people around him. Once, he even tossed a rubber snake at Jack Nicklaus during a playoff! He used his success to help others by starting scholarships for Mexican Americans. He also worked as a golf expert on NBC television. Even though he had some hard times, like a lightning strike in 1975, he kept playing. He remains a very important icon in the world of sports.

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