Stars like 2020 champion Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka are on the course and look to make a move on moving day. See the action at Torrey Pines.
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While it’s not uncommon for Titleist to sign players, for a golfer, it’s one of life’s most celebrated achievements. After all, Titleist is among the most recognized brand names in all of golf. Some may go so far as to call it life-changing. As one of the most outgoing and friendly players on the PGA TOUR, it’s not uncommon for folks to have the opportunity to rub elbows with 11-time PGA TOUR winner and 2015 FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth. To some, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience in itself. For one young man making his way through life the best way he can, life-changing and once-in-a-lifetime experiences became one Tuesday at the Valero Texas Open. This is the story of how it came to be and how it will sustain Alex Trevino, Jr. through the rest of his life. People who make the decision to go at life alone are one of two types. Most are naïve and eventually stand down. The unwavering others forge ahead with a rare level of courage so astounding that it will define them until they’ve delivered their last breath. It’s a story of despair or repair. The thing is, though, who is who can only be truly determined when faced with life’s most challenging elements. Texas native Alex Trevino found himself at one of those most difficult crossroads in September of 2017. That was the first time. He proved to be among the courageous few. And, he had yet to celebrate his 15th birthday. Alex began experiencing pain in the back of his neck. Instead of it going away, the pain proved to be almost unbearable. So, too, would be the news. “We went to his pediatrician, we went to emergency rooms, and we got all kinds of tests done,â€� said Alex’s father, Alex. “The last thing we imagined is that it was cancer.â€� Barely a teenager, Alex was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. The hardest thing to imagine had become a stark, glaring reality. “At the beginning, they thought it was a fracture or something,â€� said Alex’s mother, Madai. “But, it was one of the rarest forms of cancer, especially in kids. And, because it was in the C‑2 vertebrae, the doctors didn’t think it was going to be a tumor.â€� Doctors, sadly, were wrong. But, in May, after starting treatment shortly after the diagnosis, Alex’s cancer went into remission. He and his family clung to hope.  As fate would have it, in November of 2018, Alex was again diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. This time, though, it had metastasized into his lungs.  “It was very hard the first time, but even harder the second time,â€� Madai said. “When you overcome the first time, you have to realize you will be going through everything again, with no assurance that you will make it out.â€� Alex took to the game of golf at a young age and became quite a player. He was well on his way to big things within the game as a teenager when news of his illness broke. But, with a determined spirit, he made it through the first setback. “Alex just started to get his health and his strength back where he was able to perform the way he wanted, and he finally was even able to win a tournament,â€� said Alex Sr. “Then, the second diagnosis came about, so he knew he was going to have to cut back.â€� “It was hard for him when they told him the results of the CAT scans,â€� said Madai. “He decided to be strong again and fight and keep fighting. But, it was hard, because he was back into golf and even on the team.â€� Alex underwent surgery to remove the biopsy, but the doctors had to cut the muscle, making it challenging to swing a club. Recently, though, doctors told him he can start practicing again. “He’s limited,â€� said Alex Sr. “He’s able to putt and chip. He’s physically able to, and he tries, but chemotherapy attacks your blood cells and he gets fatigued along the way. He’s just vulnerable. We try to limit that vulnerability for him to be able to stay healthy and continue the treatment, and hopefully, get the best results.â€� As opposed to taking treatments three weeks apart, Alex decided his best chance for survival would be to compress them into two-week intervals. What that meant was that very strong medicine was inside his young body continuously. “He was prepared just like a golfer would be in the sense that he knew what he had to do, what he had to eat, how to take his medicine,â€� said Alex Sr. “He knew exactly what he had to do in order to reach that goal every two weeks.â€� Courage aside, not many people – especially kids – could conjure the fortitude Alex did to increase every chance of survival. Then again, not every kid is Alex Trevino. On his terms, Alex was going at life alone. “I’ll tell you a story as to why he did it,â€� said Alex Sr. “He played team sports and he was really good. But, they were team sports. So, if he committed an error in baseball or someone didn’t get the out needed, his feeling was that he let the team down or because of another’s error, he didn’t feel as if his work made a difference. I told him it was a team sport. I told him that golf is an individual sport, and you have nobody else to blame or let down.’” The words resonated with the young man. “He said he wanted to go to golf because he didn’t want to have to depend on anybody,â€� said Madai. “I remember him saying, ‘I think I can do it myself. If I’m going to lose it, it will be for me making my own mistake, not for anybody else making a mistake for me.’ That’s why he loves golf. He loves it because it’s only him against the course, and he can’t blame anybody else. He likes to be that type of individual. So, it’s just a natural fit for him, the way his character is.â€� Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and in conjunction with the PGA TOUR, Alex was treated to a VIP experience at the Valero Texas Open on Tuesday which, among other things, featured one-on-one time with Spieth, who finished second in his first start at TPC San Antonio in 2015. “I’m touched that when it’s presented to someone, to Make-A-Wish for something, that they would like to involve me,â€� Spieth said. “But, at the same time, it really puts things into perspective, especially when you think about someone going through what Alex is. If we can be a part of him finding a day that brings him a lot of joy, it will go a long way …not only for him, but for us. We take a lot away from these kinds of things, too.â€� “He’s been through the three rounds of chemo this time around, with 13 remaining,â€� said Alex Sr. “This day is such a good way for him to make a goal of us coming back out here and either playing this course or being here next year as spectators. He’ll have that in his mind, and it will help drive him and help him go through all of the treatments.â€� In addition to walking several holes with Spieth during Tuesday’s practice round – and even draining a few impressive putts – Alex was also taken to the Titleist equipment truck for what he was told would be a quick tour. It was there where, to his surprise, he was officially signed to the Titleist team. “It means a lot because he’s going to get more encouraged to keep going, to keep fighting the fight,â€� said Madai. “This will be his reason to keep going, because this treatment is harder than the first one. He doesn’t show it, but it’s very hard on him. He’s going to be a lot better for this experience. He’s going to say, ‘I want to do that, I’m going to be there in the future. I’m going to be there for real.’â€� “I got word that he was close to not even being able to come out here,â€� said Spieth. “So, the fact that he is here and doing all he is doing today is amazing. I mean, he is out here, walking holes, asking questions and just talking about only positive things. That’s got to be so difficult to do, especially at his age. But, what it does is speak so much to how strong-willed he is.â€� As part of his VIP experience Tuesday, Alex and his family were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Valero Texas Open media center. It included a special, impromptu press conference where Alex was asked to make a few comments. He sat in the chair reserved for each year’s tournament champion. “I’d like to thank my family,â€� he said. “They have given me a lot more than I have given them.â€� Alex Trevino, Jr. may have made the choice to face this part of his life on his own as best as he can. However, he would hard-pressed to find anyone, family or friend, who would agree with him that he hasn’t given them just as much. “He’s so easy to have as a kid,â€� said Alex Sr. “I feel like we should not even get credit, because he’s just naturally that person and naturally that strong‑willed. Right now, he has it in his mind that he’s going to beat it again. So, we’re just along for the ride with him.â€� In a text message Tuesday night to a PGA TOUR staff member, Alex wrote a note of thanks, calling it “one of the most amazing days of my life.â€� Memorable as it was, it’s also fitting for a kid like Alex to refer to it as one of the most amazing days of his life, but not the best. The most amazing day of his life, he knows, will be tomorrow. And, the best one after that will be the next day. The most amazing day of Alex Trevino, Jr.’s life will always be tomorrow.
Only 156 golfers will tee it up at Shinnecock Hills in June, but just getting to the Southampton property is a competition in itself.
It’s not often when the PGA TOUR descends on what is essentially a new golf course, but that’s the reality at this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson. Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas hosts the 156-man field headlined by local native and resident Jordan Spieth. It opened in the fall of 2016. For much more on it, what it should challenge, how it should score and other nuggets, scroll beneath the ranking. POWER RANKINGS: 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson RANK PLAYER COMMENT Given value of imagination and creativity the course demands, he’s the man to beat even as he continues to struggle with his putting. Among the handful with course knowledge, too. Co-led the B flight at TPC Sawgrass for his best finish since being diagnosed with Lyme disease. Since the Masters: T20-4th-T25-T2. The Texan remains a force with his putter. Always a threat in Texas thanks in part to his profile as one of the best in the wind. Recently T7 at Bay Hill and ninth at Augusta National. Eighth on TOUR in birdies or better. Second defending champion in three weeks on a different course (Brian Harman, Wells Fargo). Horschel’s switch in putters has resulted in a phenomenal month, including Zurich title. Spieth has compared Trinity Forest to Royal Birkdale where Kuchar finished second (to Spieth) in the 2017 Open Championship. He’s been consistently (and predictably) solid ever since. Trinity Forest is the home club for the first-time PGA TOUR member. Lives locally. Terrific short game pays off confident irons. Just a few weeks removed from Houston Open runner-up. The T11 at THE PLAYERS was his best finish anywhere in 11 months. Led the field in scrambling for the first time since the 2011 Open Championship, evidence for his comfort on links. The Scot has been peppering leaderboards since a T9 at the WM Phoenix Open in early February. It’s one of four top-11 finishes during a 7-for-8 burst. Highly underrated putter. Five top 25s in his last six starts, including a career-best T17 in his 16th appearance at THE PLAYERS. Balanced throughout his bag and 26th on TOUR in adjusted scoring. Local veteran comfortable in wind and coming off a T23 at THE PLAYERS where his putting was better than every start since the 2016 PLAYERS. Has a proven record of being streaky. Possesses the entire game needed to win at Trinity Forest but hasn’t been putting four rounds together despite a 10-for-10 season. Sits sixth in strokes gained: putting. Limited in playing time due to conditional status, he’s heated up quickly with a sixth (with Tony Finau) in New Orleans and a T8 in the Knoxville Open on the Web.com Tour. Had last week off after a T5 at the Wells Fargo Championship where he led the field in scrambling and spun a career-low 62 in the third round. Five top 20s on the season. Enters with a streak of five cuts made during which he thrived in the wind at Coralas (T5) and TPC San Antonio (T8). Ranks 30th on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation. Might own the most confidence right now after capturing victory at the Knoxville Open on Sunday. It was a much-needed jolt after failing to log a top 40 in his first 12 starts of 2018. Sergio Garcia, Hideki Matsuyama and Brandt Snedeker will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. Trinity Forest is unlike every other host course on the PGA TOUR. The irony is that there isn’t a single tree on the 7,380-yard par 71. Situated inside the eponymous woodland south of downtown, it was designed and built by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw on a landfill consisting only of inorganic material. For numerous reasons — including environmental, which is counterintuitive — the agreement was that no trees were to be planted. There isn’t a water hazard, either. And like a piano featuring an identical number of keys, the 88 bunkers will strike major, minor, diminished and augmented chords in targeting for course management due to the virtual absence of distance cues. To the eye, it’s a links-style layout sans the traditional out-and-back characteristic. However, in a recent press conference, Spieth downplayed the ground game usually required on tests that host The Open Championship, for example. “It’s like an American links,” he said. “You’ve kind of got to play it from the air, not really a bounce-the-ball-up kind of links. … You get maybe four or five, six holes where you can bounce the ball up, but the way to get balls close is to come in with a higher shot.” Trinity Zoysia grass blankets everything but the greens and its length is universal at just shy of one-half of one inch, so there is no rough. The Champion bermudagrass putting surfaces will be prepped to run no faster than 11 feet on the Stimpmeter primarily so that the wind doesn’t blow balls around. Due to these facts, the unfamiliarity for most in the field and the expected speed of the turf overall, the basic thinking of hitting fairways is superseded by placement off the tee. This will help mitigate distance and swing open the door for any skill set to contend and prevail. In what was conducted in part as a test run for the AT&T Byron Nelson, Trinity Forest hosted the Texas State Open on the first four days of August of 2017. It played as a par 70 at 7,135 yards. With three 65s and a 67, Fort Worth’s Brax McCarthy posted an eye-opening 18-under 262 en route to an eight-shot victory in both favorable and inclement conditions. This week’s forecast begins and ends with risk of rain and the potential of storms, but drier air will command the rest of the tournament. That will yield the storyline to the heat as daytimes highs easily should eclipse 90 degrees. Customary Texas winds will defend the course especially in the middle rounds. The original nines were reversed for the AT&T Byron Nelson. It isn’t unprecedented for TOUR officials to revise routing, but it is unusual that membership at Trinity Forest has retained it. The 471-yard par-4 11th plays as a par 5 for members. It also shares a 36,000-square foot green with the 412-yard par-4 third. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton reviews and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Facebook Live, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.
