NEWS
Trevino proposes senior amateur event
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Whether he's joking or not, Lee Trevino said he has never been to a golf tournament he didn't play in. And this week at the Greenbrier Classic, he says his role is to "sit in Jim Justice's skybox."
But The Greenbrier's pro emeritus plans to leave his mark on the resort's ever-growing golf portfolio.
He said Monday he wants to start a Lee Trevino Amateur Championship, a national tournament for senior players. He is thinking of dividing the event by age groups -- 55-62, 63-70 and 70-and-over, with gross and net divisions.
He would use the Old White TPC and the Greenbrier course on the first two days, cut the field and play the third and final round back on the Old White. He is thinking of a June event, a few weeks before the Classic.
"It's in the beginning stages," he said. "I think I can assemble about 120 players here. It would be wonderful, because these seniors that play amateur golf, they're actually the backbone [of the sport].
"If you really look at golf, the backbone of golf are people who are people that are amateurs. They're the ones that support it, pay for it and promote it. I don't think we do enough for the seniors over 70 and in the 60s, over 55. I'd like to do that here. I think I got Mr. Justice's blessing on it."
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Then he joked again and said, "I haven't even talked to him about it. He will see this, hopefully."
At age 75, Trevino was delighted to interact with players two or three generations removed. He also was eager to see Tiger Woods again, even if Woods is struggling these days.
"It's good to see Tiger. I haven't seen him in a long, long time. He's the only guy that actually made me turn on the television when I got home from practicing or playing -- 'What did Tiger shoot?'
"He's having a little hard time. He'll work out of it. He's Tiger Woods. He's won 14 majors and he's a great player."
Trevino continues to lob bouquets at his new home, the resort and the state of West Virginia.
"I'm loving this place. I've been here a month and it feels like I've been here an hour. It's gorgeous," he said.
This article was written by Doug Smock from The Charleston Gazette, W.Va. and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.