As it turns out, winning your first PGA Tour victory is not as nerve-wracking as talking to Nick Saban.
Lee Hodges, a former golfer from the University of Alabama, didn’t appear nervous during the 3M Open last week. Perhaps because he won by seven strokes and led from start to finish, leaving little suspense throughout the tournament.
However, the call from the University of Alabama’s football coach was a different story.
“That was undoubtedly the occasion when I was most nervous all week,” Hodges told “Crimson Drive,” according to Roger Hoover. “He’s the man in the state of Alabama. He can do whatever he wants.”
Saban’s congratulatory call came with the usual pleasantries, including Hodges telling Saban to “get ready” for the next football season.
“I’ve received some criticism for calling him ‘Dude,’ ‘Pal,’ and ‘Bud,’ but obviously, I didn’t know what to say,” explained Hodges, who said he “bleeds crimson.” “It was a kind of blackout moment, you know? You’re talking to the most famous man in the state of Alabama. I sort of blanked out. Sorry, coach, if you didn’t like it.”
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Hodges shot a 63 on Thursday, a 64 on Friday, and a 66 on Saturday to take a commanding lead in the final round at the TPC Twin Cities course in Blaine, on a former sod farm in the suburbs of Minneapolis. He had two eagles and two bogeys on Sunday.
