PGA Tour: Alabama’s Nick Saban phones Lee Hodges after his 3M Open win

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The camaraderie amongst Alabama Crimson Tide gamers, coaches, alumni, and followers runs deep.

Soccer coach Nick Saban is nicely conscious of that.

So too is Lee Hodges, a former graduate of Alabama. Hodges crushed the sector this previous weekend on the 3M Open, successful by seven strokes.

Therefore why Saban reached out to Hodges to congratulate him on Sunday night.

“Congratulations,” Saban mentioned. “That’s improbable. Had an awesome one, huh? I normally watch at night time and I used to be rooting for you.”

“There’s not many occasions you win by seven, so it was fairly enjoyable,” Hodges responded.

His seven-shot win in Minnesota marked the primary time Hodges received on the PGA Tour. It’s also the biggest margin of victory on the PGA Tour in additional than three years. Rory McIlroy was the final to do it, successful by seven photographs on the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

With the win, Hodges acquired 500 FedEx Cup factors. That vaulted him from 74th to thirty third within the FedEx Cup standings.

With solely the Prime 70 qualifying for the primary playoff occasion in Memphis, Hodges now has a assured spot within the PGA Tour’s postseason.

“I’m enjoying some actually good golf,” Hodges mentioned after his win. “I’m excited to have the chance to do some particular issues within the playoffs now. Anytime you win, you actually set your self up for some particular stuff.”

Lee Hodges, Viktor Hovland, PGA Tour, NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship

STILLWATER, Okla. — Lee Hodges of Alabama congratulates Viktor Hovland of Oklahoma State on the finish of their match through the Division I Males’s Golf Workforce Match Play Championship held on the Karsten Creek Golf Membership on Might 30, 2018.
Picture by Shane Bevel/NCAA Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

“My caddie was telling me on 18, I truthfully didn’t even give it some thought, however we get to play Augusta subsequent 12 months,” Hodges continued. “That’s one thing else. That was in all probability the best factor I heard all day. I’m simply actually grateful.”

Hodges had himself a fairly good Sunday. He received his first PGA Tour occasion, earned a visit to The Masters, and acquired a congratulatory name from Coach Saban.

And as soon as he’s performed competing within the FedEx Cup playoffs, Hodges can flip his consideration to Crimson Tide soccer, which begins practising this week.

Saban’s group opens up its 2023 season by internet hosting Center Tennessee State on Sept. 2.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough too.