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They Call Me Super Mex: The Autobiography of Lee Trevino
An autobiographical portrait of one of the world's greatest golfers describes his struggles to overcome his humble, poverty-stricken origins to reach the heights of the golfing world and his attempts to cope with fame and success
202 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 23, 2016
This circa-1982 autobiography reads like you’re sitting there listening to Lee Trevino talking, and that’s something I could do for hours on end. Any Trevino fan will similarly enjoy the life stories, anecdotes, and jokes from this man that many include both among golf history’s greatest players and ambassadors. Not only has a lot surely happened with Lee since 1982, but his supply of tales like those in this book are certainly endless; I’d love to see an updated version, circa-2016.
One of my personal favorite golfers ever, Trevino remains stuck in the vignettes of my memory, including the first time I saw him in person, following him inside the ropes for a practice round at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth when I was a mesmerized teenager. Throw in meetings later in life at charity functions and clinics he put on around the country, I’m still mad that several pictures I had with him in tee photos were lost in Hurricane Katrina.
The definition of “a swing only a mother could love”, call him “Super Mex”, “Merry Mex”, or whatever you’d like. As long as you call him “six-time major championship winner”, with two US Opens, British Opens, and PGA Championships each, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. This book gives great insight how he came to have the talent to do such things, from the most modest of beginnings. I enjoyed it.
One of my personal favorite golfers ever, Trevino remains stuck in the vignettes of my memory, including the first time I saw him in person, following him inside the ropes for a practice round at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth when I was a mesmerized teenager. Throw in meetings later in life at charity functions and clinics he put on around the country, I’m still mad that several pictures I had with him in tee photos were lost in Hurricane Katrina.
The definition of “a swing only a mother could love”, call him “Super Mex”, “Merry Mex”, or whatever you’d like. As long as you call him “six-time major championship winner”, with two US Opens, British Opens, and PGA Championships each, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. This book gives great insight how he came to have the talent to do such things, from the most modest of beginnings. I enjoyed it.
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August 2, 2023I read this for a screenplay I am writing based upon Lee's life. I grew up idolizing him as he got his start in the 60s here in El Paso. He was the pro at Horizon Hills Golf Club which is where I learned to play golf as a kid.
The book is interesting and entertaining. I am frustrated that having read this book and having watched just about every YouTube video and documentary about Trevino, I still feel like I don't know enough about him to make the screenplay as good and accurate as I would like. I guess this is because Lee is a fairly private person.
The book is interesting and entertaining. I am frustrated that having read this book and having watched just about every YouTube video and documentary about Trevino, I still feel like I don't know enough about him to make the screenplay as good and accurate as I would like. I guess this is because Lee is a fairly private person.
January 5, 2020
Fun, just like the author.
January 28, 2023
Man, they could say some different shit back in the day. I think I need to start lying more. Great read though.
February 17, 2025
From rags to riches, Lee Travino has lived quite an interesting life. Sit back and find out why some call him a MUM and listen to his hilarious jokes, all the while he makes extra money on the course...Simply Amazing!...FORE!!!
August 7, 2025
I just came off re-reading James Dodson's outstanding biography of golfer Ben Hogan, so everything I think and report will be related somewhat in comparison to that book. This is also a re-read for me; I've been watching quite a few men's and women's major tournaments recently, as I do each summer, and I decided I needed to go through these bios of two of my favorite men golfers again (the others being Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods). Trevino came out of the same area that Hogan did, almost 30 years later, and both preferred to hit a fade. They both carried the stigma of early poverty and fatherless upbringings, and were beset by demons (Hogan by self-doubt and introversion, Trevino by a late start compared to many, and alcohol-fueled temper issues). But while Hogan froze out everyone on the gold course with his icy competition personality, Trevino is famously talkative and outgoing even during tight situations.
Trevino does an admirable job of relating his life from his ramshackle beginnings in the Dallas area to his incredible success as a pro golfer, and is very modest about his accomplishments (Hall of Fame and 6 major wins - rare air indeed). Of course the expected Trevino humor is ever present, fortunately. If you don't go into the book expecting wacky and zany humor, you'll probably come away shaking your head. Also, don't come looking for polished writing. Sam Blair co-wrote They Call Me Super Mex, but I think he let Lee be Lee for the most part. Several times the narrative is confusing in terms of which tournament and which year he is referring to.
We learn that Lee was very disappointed when his older friend and father figure home club professional didn't sign his PGA application for the opportunity to earn a tour card; he felt that Lee was still too young and immature to be on the PGA Tour. Lee left for an opportunity in El Paso. He later mentions that they made up and were lifelong friends, and admits that the advice was sound.
Most older golf fans are very aware that the one major tournament that Lee never won was the Masters, and that some experts said his game just didn't match up well with the course which required quite a few right-to-left shots. Lee only partially agrees with that assessment, but deeply regrets some incidents in which he put pride over good relations with the Masters head honchos. I think many golf fans know they put on a wonderful tournament, but that they are pretty rigid about seemingly arbitrary customs foisted on players, fans and media members. Lee takes the blame for most of what transpired to make him avoid the tournament for a number of years, and says he psyched himself out about the challenges of the tournament.
In They Call Me Super Mex, Trevino talks about many incidences of all-night drinking, including before tournament rounds. He admits that it was a problem, and later in the book he tells us that later in his career he dealt successfully with it, apparently on his own. I really admire his honesty. Spick and span biographies are BORING !
I really enjoyed a story that underlines the legendary sportsmanship of Jack Nicklaus. In the PGA Championship at Tanglewood in 1974, Lee led by one stroke going into the final hole on Sunday. He was paired with Jack Nicklaus and Hubert Green. (Understand that in golf, the player whose ball is furthest from the hole plays first, unless he cedes play to a golfer closer to the hole - very rarely done.). On the 18th green, Trevino was not next to play, but his nerves were killing him. He tells what happened next:
"I was choking so badly that the putter was actually jumping in my hand. When I hit that long putt 18 inches past the hole there was no way I (wanted) to mark the ball and look at that putt for another five minutes.
I stood right in the middle of the green and looked at Jack and Hubert and told them, 'I'm coughing and leaking oil so bad that if I don't putt this thing now I'm going to faint.'
'Go ahead and putt it", Jack said. So I did, and it was over."
There's a small but good section on the player-caddy relationship and how critical it is to a golfer's success. It's so important for the caddy to understand how to "handle" the player during adversity. The psychology of sports is extremely interesting to me. I think golf, boxing and figure skating are the sports that psychological factors enter into most deeply.
Trevino does an admirable job of relating his life from his ramshackle beginnings in the Dallas area to his incredible success as a pro golfer, and is very modest about his accomplishments (Hall of Fame and 6 major wins - rare air indeed). Of course the expected Trevino humor is ever present, fortunately. If you don't go into the book expecting wacky and zany humor, you'll probably come away shaking your head. Also, don't come looking for polished writing. Sam Blair co-wrote They Call Me Super Mex, but I think he let Lee be Lee for the most part. Several times the narrative is confusing in terms of which tournament and which year he is referring to.
We learn that Lee was very disappointed when his older friend and father figure home club professional didn't sign his PGA application for the opportunity to earn a tour card; he felt that Lee was still too young and immature to be on the PGA Tour. Lee left for an opportunity in El Paso. He later mentions that they made up and were lifelong friends, and admits that the advice was sound.
Most older golf fans are very aware that the one major tournament that Lee never won was the Masters, and that some experts said his game just didn't match up well with the course which required quite a few right-to-left shots. Lee only partially agrees with that assessment, but deeply regrets some incidents in which he put pride over good relations with the Masters head honchos. I think many golf fans know they put on a wonderful tournament, but that they are pretty rigid about seemingly arbitrary customs foisted on players, fans and media members. Lee takes the blame for most of what transpired to make him avoid the tournament for a number of years, and says he psyched himself out about the challenges of the tournament.
In They Call Me Super Mex, Trevino talks about many incidences of all-night drinking, including before tournament rounds. He admits that it was a problem, and later in the book he tells us that later in his career he dealt successfully with it, apparently on his own. I really admire his honesty. Spick and span biographies are BORING !
I really enjoyed a story that underlines the legendary sportsmanship of Jack Nicklaus. In the PGA Championship at Tanglewood in 1974, Lee led by one stroke going into the final hole on Sunday. He was paired with Jack Nicklaus and Hubert Green. (Understand that in golf, the player whose ball is furthest from the hole plays first, unless he cedes play to a golfer closer to the hole - very rarely done.). On the 18th green, Trevino was not next to play, but his nerves were killing him. He tells what happened next:
"I was choking so badly that the putter was actually jumping in my hand. When I hit that long putt 18 inches past the hole there was no way I (wanted) to mark the ball and look at that putt for another five minutes.
I stood right in the middle of the green and looked at Jack and Hubert and told them, 'I'm coughing and leaking oil so bad that if I don't putt this thing now I'm going to faint.'
'Go ahead and putt it", Jack said. So I did, and it was over."
There's a small but good section on the player-caddy relationship and how critical it is to a golfer's success. It's so important for the caddy to understand how to "handle" the player during adversity. The psychology of sports is extremely interesting to me. I think golf, boxing and figure skating are the sports that psychological factors enter into most deeply.
April 1, 2012
Interesting autobiography (with Sam Blair) of the professional golfer. Boy, he sure drinks a lot!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews