Trevino’s Success on the Senior Tour Was a Family Affair : Golf: He brought his wife and baby on the road in 1990 and won a record $1.19 million. Now he wants to do better in 1991, beginning at La Costa this week.

Lee Trevino is feeling like a million. It’s to be expected of an overachiever.

In his first crack at the Senior PGA Tour after preparing for two years, Trevino set his sights on winning six tournaments and becoming the first of the 50-and-over group to win $1 million in a year.

He exceeded his goals, winning seven tournaments and earning $1,190,518. He wasn’t just the top money-winner among the seniors, he also earned more than any golfer on any 1990 tour.

On the mushrooming senior circuit, there were five golfers who earned more than Bob Charles did when he was the leading money-winner in 1989, so there was competition for Trevino. Greg Norman, facing even stiffer competition, led the PGA Tour with $1,165,477. But there was $46 million to be won on the regular tour, $21 million on the senior tour.

Trevino finished second eight times and clinched overall money honors when he tied for second place after losing a playoff in the last tournament of the year in Puerto Rico.

Trevino, who compared his first senior season with 1971, when in successive weeks he won the U.S. Open, the Canadian Open and the British Open, thought there were two major reasons he did so well. Both had to do with a change in lifestyles. Of prime importance was having his family with him on the road, and then there was his change in tournament routine after he reached 50.

“I think a major part of my success is owed to my wife, Claudia,” Trevino said as he prepared to begin a new season in the Infiniti Tournament of Champions at La Costa Thursday through Sunday.

“It has been a family affair. We had a plan that she would bring the baby (Olivia, who will be 2 in February) and we would make our home on the road. We would play about 30 tournaments a year for three years, then cut back. By that time, Olivia would be ready for preschool.

“By making this decision, it kept me from getting worn out. I didn’t have to rush home between tournaments or skip some so I could be with Claudia and the baby. I was right at home on the road.”

Trevino’s idea on how a senior should play on that tour was such a success that other older golfers can be expected to try it.

On the regular tour, almost all golfers have the same routine. They practice at every opportunity, before a round and for an hour or so afterward. Trevino was no different.

However, since joining the seniors, Trevino practices only when he takes the week off. At tour events, he gets a bucket of balls and loosens up before a round. After the round, he goes home, not trying to correct problems, not even swinging a club.

Asked what made him change, Trevino answered: “My birthday.

“After you run a marathon, should you jog?” he asked. “There’s a lot of guys out there older than I am. They go out early and practice, and after a round they are out there until it’s dark trying to correct problems.

“The only time I stayed after a round was to test some drivers for Spalding.

“These guys are 50 and older. I know they feel like they’re 20 or 30. They’re not. Their bodies won’t stand up against all that work and playing in tournaments, too.”

Trevino changed some other habits as well.

“After the round, I go home,” he said. “During the week . . . we seldom go out to dinner. If we do, it’s with Olivia at 5:30. I’m in bed by 8:30, so I’m getting eight to 10 hours of sleep each night.

“Actually, I’m never tired during a tournament. I get more rest than I do on the weeks when I’m not playing.

“One more thing that I think helps: I love to play golf. The weeks that I’m playing, that’s all I think about and it’s all I do. Until after 1992, I’m just concentrating on golf. Others have many outside interests; I don’t.”

Trevino, recovered from the back trouble that forced a premature end to his time on the regular tour, worked hard to get ready for the senior competition.

“I did even better than I thought I would,” he said. “It was like 1971 when I won all those Opens. For the year, it was like leading in batting average, runs batted in and home runs--a triple crown.

“During the year, I didn’t pay much attention to leading all those categories. But now, reflecting on it, it was quite an achievement.”

Trevino was the leader in scoring average, greens in regulation, putting, eagles, par-breakers and all-around. He led in six of the 10 statistics categories, was second to Chi Chi Rodriguez in sand saves and was third in driving accuracy.

“Although I was certain I would do well,” Trevino said, “there were a number of things that surprised me. The courses were tougher than I expected, and the players were better than I thought.

“Sure, I won seven tournaments, but almost all of them (were) by one or two shots. Mike Hill, George Archer, Chi Chi, Charles Coody and many others still play tremendous golf. I love the challenge.”

Trevino was asked what he could do for an encore.

“Well, I want to win several tournaments again and break my money record,” he said. “I have to become more aggressive in the first round.

“So many times, I was too relaxed in the first round and fell behind. I usually had to rally on the last day to get up for those second-place finishes.”

Although there were only three weeks between the end of the 1990 season and the 1991 Tournament of Champions, Trevino is ready to go.

“It’s more tiring around home,” he said. “I’m out shopping, getting groceries and working around the place. Playing in tournaments is my rest time.”