Golfers come together to watch and listen Lee Trevino give tips and tricks during the Golf Clinic at the Cascades Golf and Country Club in Tyler, Texas on Sunday July 29, 2018. Lee Trevino is a retired American professional golfer. He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. (Schuyler Wick/Tyler Morning Telegraph).

If you’re going to learn tips on playing a sport, it’s a good idea to learn from one of the greats.

People in Tyler had that opportunity as golf legend Lee Trevino conducted a free golf clinic on Sunday afternoon at The Cascades Golf & Country Club as part of the 48th Tanos Exploration II/Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open.

Trevino’s résumé speaks for itself. He won six majors on the PGA Tour — the U.S. Open in 1968 and 1971, The Open Championship in 1971 and 1972 and The PGA Championship in 1974 and 1984. He was the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and the PGA Player of the Year in 1971. He’s also a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Trevino’s clinic kicked off an event he won twice — in 1965 and 1966.

“This is where I got my start,” Trevino said. “I tried to tell people before they left to come out and watch these guys, because these guys are going to be the future.

“When I played in 1965 and won that tournament, no one had a clue who I was. I didn’t even know who I was. But I had practiced, and I played extremely hard for like four years. I didn’t go into that tournament like I was going to win the tournament. I was just hoping I placed well. I ended up tying and won a playoff with Frank Wharton. Anytime there is a golf tournament and professionals are playing, you’ve got to watch them, because somebody is going to break out.”

Trevino’s clinic featured some jokes, some stories and a few tips on how to use a wedge.

At the end, Trevino took some questions.

Trevino explained why a 7-wood is his preferred club.

After a question about Jack Nicklaus, Trevino said, “The way I beat Jack was with my wedge. He was not a good wedge player, and I asked him one day how he could win 18 majors and 14 million tournaments and couldn’t hit a wedge, and he said ‘because I never had to use one.’”

One kid in attendance asked what the most useful club is aside from the wedge. Trevino said the putter is the most useful, because you use it on every hole.

Asked what his favorite golf course to play on is, Trevino said Pine Valley in Pine Valley, New Jersey.

Following the clinic, Trevino spoke to the media and signed some autographs for the fans, including a Sports Illustrated he was on the cover of, some hats and some gloves.

“This is in my element,” Trevino said. “I’ve been retired from golf at least 10 years, and I look forward to stuff like this. I don’t want to separate myself from our fans and the game itself. This is such a great game. Knowledge is what you’re supposed to share with these young kids. If I helped a couple of people in the audience today, it was worth the whole trip.”

There was a Pro-Am for the Texas State Open on Sunday afternoon. There will be a practice round on Monday, and the four-round tournament will begin at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

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