One of the indelible images from the men’s golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics has been the new addition to Aussie Cameron Smith’s mullet — the letters “AUS” carved in the side of his head.
Smith mentioned after his second round at Kasumigaseki Country Club that his barber in the Jacksonville/Ponte Vedra Beach area is named Lee Trevino.
No, it’s not that Lee Trevino, however, there is a golf connection.
Lee Trevino, who owns and operates Tonic & Tweed Salon in Jacksonville, was named for the 29-time PGA Tour winner. His father, who hailed from Mexico, was often asked if he was related to the star golfer, and eventually named his second son to honor the World Golf Hall of Famer.
And Smith isn’t the only PGA Tour player who comes to Trevino for hairstyling.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with a number of PGA Tour players, and they’re all great guys, ” Trevino told Golfweek on Friday, mentioning that he started by cutting the hair of two-time Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Matt Every. He now also works with Doc Redman, Jonas Blixt, and others.
“And Cam, oh my gosh, he’s just a great all-around dude. I’ve been really lucky to cut his mullet.”
Aussie Cam Smith is a few days away from Tokyo but he’s ready!#TokyoTogether pic.twitter.com/mQAyXEcZmh
— Golf Australia
(@GolfAust) July 24, 2021
Although his hair can be flamboyant, Smith’s golf game remains steady. He shot a solid 67 in the second round at the Olympics. Ranked No. 28 in the world, Smith would be closer to the lead if not for a bad break on the final hole when his ball caromed off a hospitality tent and into the water that led to a double bogey. With 36 holes remaining, Smith is tied for 20th with Matthias Schwab and Abe Ancer. seven shots off the lead.
Trevino said he loves his visits from Smith, who already has three PGA Tour victories on his resume.
“He’s really funny,” Trevino said of Smith. “He’s an outdoorsman who is just always cracking jokes. A great, great guy.”
At the Zurich Classic, Smith’s business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back look was the talk of the town, so much so that his teammate Marc Leishman broke out a mullet of his own on Saturday and their walk-up song was “The Mullet Song.”
And as for Smith’s crazy hair requests, does Trevino ever try to talk him into something more traditional?
“No way. I usually go full-in. I like to push myself and do whatever makes the client happy,” he said, noting that he’s been in love with the game since the sixth grade. “But everything with Cam is freehand, so you just go for it.”
Trevino has been styling hair for 15 years and has won numerous awards, some in the Jacksonville area and some on a national stage.
“It’s such a strong golf community here in Ponte Verda Beach and Jacksonville,” Trevino said. “And I know guys can go get a haircut for 20 bucks somewhere else, but when they come to someone like me, it lasts quite a bit longer and it’s easier to maintain over time.
“They’re not wearing their hat like 50 percent of the time, whether it’s at the gym or on the course, but when they take it off, I want them to feel good about their hair.”