‘An Accident’: 41 Years After His Iconic Loss, Lee Trevino Finally Revealed What Cost Him One of His Biggest Upsets in 2009

At 83 years of age, golfing legend Lee Trevino has many stories to tell, the majority of which evidently revolves around the majestic golfing career of the 6-time major champion. However, looking at shining gold, what one often forgets is the dullness beneath it. In this case, the stories that fall short of justifying his majestic aura.

One of the most prominent golfing names in the 60s and the 70s, Trevino went on to win numerous titles in the game. However, it was the 1968 PGA Championship that left an unforgettable impact on him. 41 years later, it was in October 2009 that the Texas-born player finally revealed what happened at the Championship.

Lee Trevino finally answered the much-asked question

Taking time off from his golfing schedule, Lee Trevino indulged in a conversation with a media house. While the conversation started on a lighter note, it soon took an intense turn with Trevino touching on his iconic 1962 PGA Championship loss in San Antonio. A loss, that the World Golf Hall of Famer titled as ‘an accident’.

Getting into the conversation with the interviewers, he started by asserting, “That was when Gatorade first came out, and they put a case of it in my room.”

Also read- ‘The Electricity Stopped My Heart’: Lee Trevino Once Explained How He Survived a Lightning Strike

Coming from the Marines, Trevino was largely regarded for his disciplined life. Something, that made him apart from a considerable chunk of the party lovers on the tour. However, the that wasn’t the case in San Antonio. Going further in the conversation, he admitted, “We were having a party Saturday night, and they were mixing tequila with this stuff, and it was pretty good. And they had all this Gatorade in the refrigerator in a big pot.”

The late-night chug-a-lugging that took away Trevino’s title

As mentioned earlier, Trevino was on a run for titles during the 60s and the 70s. Similar was the case at the 1962 Championship. Only a stroke or two off the lead, Trevino’s hunger for his maiden major title pulled him out of the party and soon pushed him off to sleep. However, it was a 3am thirst that not only broke his sleep but also his dream.