Trevino keeps playing

NEWPORT BEACH — While Lee Trevino may be the oldest golfer at the 16th annual Toshiba Classic, the 70-year-old believes he belongs regardless of his age.

“No, I earned [my spot],” Trevino said of the critics who believe he shouldn’t be here this week. “Most of the guys that’ll tell you that I’m taking their spot haven’t earned one yet. They haven’t earned their spot yet. When people say that, they’re not talking about me; hopefully they’re not because if they are, they’re pretty ignorant.”

That’s because Trevino’s resume speaks for itself.

His PGA Tour career started with winning the 1967 Rookie of the Year honors and since totaled 29 victories each on the PGA and Champions Tours — including six PGA and four Champions majors.

The 1981 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee also won five Vardon Trophies (awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average), played on six U.S. Ryder Cup teams, captained the 1985 Ryder Cup team and even had a role in “Happy Gilmore.”

With nothing left to do on his golf bucket list, Trevino said he is out here at Newport Beach Country Club this week because he wants to pay the sport and its fans back a little bit, despite the arthritis in his knees.

“Golf’s been extremely good to me and that’s why I’m doing it,” he said. “I travel across the country and play in about six tournaments a year. That’s all.”

In fact, he added the only thing left on his bucket list is to get his children Olivia, who is at USC, and Daniel, a high school junior, through college.

“Other than that, then they can lay me down,” Trevino said.

But the animated golfer nicknamed “Merry Mex” is far from laying down.

Trevino was seen Thursday cracking jokes with his pro-am playing partners, signing autograph requests and shaking hands, as he conversed with old acquaintances.

Dan Haag of Vila Park, who played with Trevino in the pro-am, experienced one of those jokes firsthand.

“[Trevino] said, ‘If you stood over that putt any longer, you were going to fall asleep,’ ” Haag said.

Peter Lydon of Cerritos also summed up the playing experience as “awesome” and said Trevino still plays well and he hopes to have Trevino’s game when he is 70.

Trevino is also not the only Hall of Famer this week at the Toshiba Classic.

The tournament is comprised of 11 World Golf Hall of Famers and 23 PGA Tour and Champions Tour major winners.

Trevino said because of that, and other PGA players soon to turn 50, the Champions Tour is the main attraction in golf right now.

“We actually have more headliners here than the regular tour – especially with Tiger [Woods] out at the moment,” he said. “The talent is pretty deep here right now.”

Though Trevino may not be the favorite to win the Classic, one of the largest galleries on the course today will follow Trevino, Fred Funk and Nick Price on the first tee at 11:27 a.m.

“It’s all I know how to do,” Trevino said of competing at his age. “If I could cook, I’d go get me a restaurant. I can’t do anything else.

“I can mow lawns, but my wife won’t buy me a riding mower,” he said. “She said, ‘If you’re going to cut this, you’re going to walk, boy.’ And I said, I’m not doing that.”

Trevino will use his energy this weekend.