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With six major championships and 29 PGA Tour victories, Lee Trevino has established himself as not only one of the game’s most prolific champions, but also a respected voice on the game’s pressing topics.
Over the past several weeks, pace has once again become a hot-button issue on the PGA Tour, and one that Trevino, now 83, feels strongly about.
When Trevino joined SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio Show by Michael Breed On Wednesday, he jumped right into slow play, delivering his observations with candor and his trademark wit.
“I can’t really tell you on the radio what my thoughts are [are]’” Trevino said, laughing when Breed prompted him to think about players crossing the line to read shots. “That’s a young thing. An old man can’t do that because he can’t see his feet.
Jokes aside, Trevino said he believes something needs to be done to get players moving faster on the PGA Tour.
“They need to punish some of these slow players,” Trevino said.
While no high-profile player has yet to be penalized for slow play during a televised tournament tournament in years, Trevino said there is a big-name precedent: Jack Nicklaus.
Trevino recalled that Nicklaus was penalized two shots for slow play during the 1962 Portland Open. It was Nicklaus’ rookie year on the PGA Tour.
“Jack went ahead and won by six,” said Trevino. “It didn’t make a difference. But at least they had the courage to punish the star. It doesn’t help anything.” [penalize] Someone can’t pay their rent.”
Although the controversy over Patrick Cantlay’s alleged slow play at the Masters has highlighted the issue of slow play, this isn’t the first time Trevino has publicly considered ways to speed up the game.
In a 1973 issue of GOLF Magazine, Trevino suggested 10 ways to make the game faster – advice that still resonates today!
To hear Trevino’s full interview on Breed, click here here.