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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 sphere this previous weekend on the 3M Open, profitable by seven strokes.
Therefore why Saban reached out to Hodges to congratulate him on Sunday night.
“Congratulations,” Saban stated. “That’s implausible. Had an ideal one, huh? I normally watch at evening 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 gained on the PGA Tour. It’s also the most important margin of victory on the PGA Tour in additional than three years. Rory McIlroy was the final to do it, profitable by seven photographs on the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.
With the win, Hodges obtained 500 FedEx Cup factors. That vaulted him from 74th to thirty third in 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 stated 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.”
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“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 most likely the good factor I heard all day. I’m simply actually grateful.”
Hodges had himself a fairly good Sunday. He gained his first PGA Tour occasion, earned a visit to The Masters, and obtained a congratulatory name from Coach Saban.
And as soon as he’s accomplished competing within the FedEx Cup playoffs, Hodges can flip his consideration to Crimson Tide soccer, which begins training this week.
Saban’s crew opens up its 2023 season by internet hosting Center Tennessee State on Sept. 2.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.
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