Having Once Shunned the Masters For It’s Alleged Dictatorial Nature, PGA Tour Legend Admits the Harsh Backstory Behind His Boycott

The Masters tournament is the heralded event of the golf world. With players coming from around the world and trying their best to attain the green jacket, it is not a game for a faint heart. However, in the existence of it, there was one pro who never gained the Masters title, and had his inhibitions about the prestigious golf course.

The aforementioned golf legend has plenty of wins and accolades to his name, but back in his prime years, it was his tuff with Augusta that garnered a lot of attention. Could he never play at the Augusta, was he banned or did he boycott the Masters and loathe its existence for the longest time? After decades of his boycott, the legendary golfer finally confessed the real reason for his Augusta-Masters fuss!

The legend who won 6 majors, but none of those 6 major wins came at Augusta, and had 29 wins on the PGA Tour is none other than Lee Trevino. It’s not like Trevino did not play at Augusta, he did; twice. Trevino competed in the Masters in 1975 and 1985 and ended at the 10th position both times.  At that time, Trevino described his absence from Augusta because the course was not suitable for him. Moreover, in 1970, 71, and 72, Trevino boycotted and rejected the Masters invites. The real reason, though never gotten out, now has been revealed by the 6x Ryder Cupper.

On the occasion of his 84th birthday eve, Trevino made an appearance on the No Laying Up podcast. When asked about what was the reason for his boycotting the Augusta, he narrated a story of his four friends, including his caddie Neil Harvey, not being allowed to enter through the same gate as him.

Trevino wanted to buy the gallery tickets for his guests himself, however, he was not allowed to do so. Reiterating the incident, the 29X PGAT winner said, “And they said no, you can’t do that. And that’s what set it off. That’s what started the ball rolling right there. “

Sharing more details about the incident, Trevino shared that things escalated when the security wanted to kick his caddie out. “I had my caddy with me. That took care of me, drove my car, took care of my stuff. Neil Harvey, they wanted to kick him out.” As a result of this, the former pro “ended up getting into it with Cliff Robert (co-founder of the Masters).” Trevino further explained, “The golf course never had anything to do with me not going there. I love that place, it’s gorgeous.” However, the issue “started with Cliff Roberts and tickets.” 

Lee Trevino’s harsh words for Cliff Robert 

It seemed that Trevino did not have an amicable relationship with Robert and he then decided to remove himself altogether from the Masters tournament as he boycotted it and felt that Robert “was a dictator.” Trevino, as he calls himself “short-fueled”, didn’t want to argue with Robert and left Augusta alone.

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Moreover, he called the golfers playing at Augusta “gutless” as no one rebelled against the strict rules ordained by Robert. The dislike was so severe that in the Masters he did play, he rather chose to use his car as the dressing room than the Augusta National’s room.

Although Trevino had stated the boycotting as “the greatest mistake” of his career. However, at the age of 84, the legendary golfer has moved on from past mistakes and finally confessed the truth about the missing green jackets that most golfer desires.

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