Home

Golf

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

Published 12/21/2021, 2:00 PM EST

Follow Us

Lee Trevino has won 29 PGA tours and six major championship victories in his career and is considered as one of the greatest golfers. His golfing skills with wedges were unbeatable. And even today, at the age of 82, he still has got that magic in him. Trevino recently competed at the 2021 PNC Championship and hit a few darts with short irons and wedges. 

However, apart from this, Trevino is also famous for an unfortunate incident. And after this incident, Lee gave his legendary punch line, “not even God can hit a 1-iron.” But what was that incident? Let’s find out. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

When a bolt of lightning struck Lee Trevino on a golf course

During the 1975 Western Open at Butler National in Oak Brook, Illinois, Lee Trevino was standing on the 13th green. But suddenly, as the rain started pouring down; he opened an umbrella. However, along with rain, lightning struck Trevino and left him unconscious. Moreover, he wasn’t the only guy who was struck by lightning. Even Jerry Heard and Bobby Nichols were taken to a hospital from the course.

Watch This Story: Paige Spiranac Reveals Her Goals for 2022

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Golf stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Trevino had suffered burns to his back, while Heard had burns on his leg, and Bobby had damage to his head. Even King Arnold Palmer was in the field and had an interesting experience. The King said when lightning struck, his club went flying from his hand. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

So after a while, when Lee Trevino recovered, a reporter asked if he would do anything different to avoid being struck by lightning. And that’s when Trevino came up with his legendary punch line saying he would hold a 1-iron in the air because not even God can hit 1-iron. 

via Reuters

Furthermore, he shared his experience about this encounter with a reporter. “It was a nice, warm feeling,” said Trevino“Evidently, I was gone. The electricity stopped my heart. When I woke up, I was in pain. The doctor said if I hadn’t had such a strong heart, I would be dead.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, thankfully, all the three golfers recovered and soon started competing again. But these things aren’t good and hopefully will never happen again.  

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by:

Amey Kulkarni

1,013Articles

One take at a time

Amey Kulkarni is a Golf writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in mass media from HR College, Mumbai. Before joining EssentiallySports he used to write articles on Golf and Cricket on his personal blog cricgolf.
Show More>

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT