LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Lee Hodges produced a back-nine birdie blitz to take a stranglehold on the PGA Tour’s 3M Open in Minnesota on Saturday and stay on course for the first tour victory of his career.
The 28-year-old world No. 110 fired a five-under-par third round 66 to open up a five-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round.
Hodges, who is yet to win on the PGA Tour, stands on 20 under through 54 holes at the TPC Twin Cities course in Blaine — the first time he has taken a solo lead into the final round.
“I have nothing to lose,” Hodges said after Saturday’s round.
“I’m out here playing with house money. I have a job next year on the PGA Tour, this is all great. This is just icing on the cake.”
Starting the day four shots clear of the field, Hodges struggled to generate momentum early on with two bogeys and two birdies to reach the turn at level par.
But he caught fire after the turn, with back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th holes before reeling off three more birdies to take a grip on the leaderboard.
The pick of Hodges’ flurry of birdies came on the par-five 18th when he blasted a superb third shot out of a greenside bunker to seven feet before coolly rolling in the birdie putt.
