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Winner's Bag

The clubs Lee Hodges used to win the 2023 3M Open

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Stacy Revere

After Saturday’s third round at the 3M Open, Lee Hodges didn’t let the fact he held a five-shot lead lull him into a sense that Sunday was going to be a round on cruise control. “I not going to try and make pars because pars aren't going to get it done tomorrow, I'm going to have to keep making birdies,” he said.

Well, yes and no. Hodges made only three birdies but a pair of electrifying eagles at the par-5 sixth and 12th kept his lead always at a comfortable margin, allowing Hodges to indeed cruise to victory at TPC Twin Cities, winning by seven shots.

The first of those eagles was a 3-wood from 253 yards out at the par-5 sixth that settled 11 feet from the hole and the latter was set up by another 3-wood approach, this one from 256 yards to inside three feet at the par-5 12th essentially ended any hope for J.T. Poston, who had been doggedly chasing Hodges.

Hodges’ 3-wood is a 15-degree Titleist TSR3 with a UST Mamiya LIN-Q Red M40X 8F5 X shaft and the adjustable hosel in the neutral setting for loft and lie angle.

Titleist Vokey Design SM9
Titleist Vokey Design SM9

WHAT IT DOES: The SM9 builds on the SM8’s center-of-gravity position in front of the face that assists squaring the club at impact. This version slightly raises the CG vertically by adding weight higher in the clubhead. Progressive hosel lengths also raise the CG, which promotes a lower, more controllable flight. 

WHY WE LIKE IT: The SM9 features the first groove revision in a Vokey wedge since the SM6. A new “spin milled” cutting process creates the entire scoreline instead of just part of it. The result is a more consistent scoreline edge radius, allowing the grooves to be sharper and closer to the USGA limit. Confused by all the options? Here’s some advice from designer Bob Vokey: Go with more bounce in the sand wedge and less bounce in the lob wedge.  Read more>>

$180

Although those shots certainly aided Hodges ranking as first in strokes gained/approach, you don’t pick up more than nine shots on the field unless your irons are working as well. For Hodges that means a split set of Titleist irons with the latest iteration of the T100 for the 4- through 6-irons and the 620 CB for the 7-through 9-irons with a Titleist Vokey SM9 46-degree wedge for the pitching wedge. The irons have KBS Tour C-Taper 130X shafts and Golf Pride MCC grips.

On the greens, Hodges ranked second in strokes gained/putting, picking up nearly seven shots on the field with his Scotty Cameron By Titleist GoLo 6 tour prototype mallet putter.

“I have nothing to lose,” Hodges replied Saturday when asked if he would be nervous Sunday. “I'm out here playing with house money.”

Now thanks to his fine play, he’ll be playing with a boatload more ($1.404 million) of actual money, too.

What Lee Hodges had in the bag at the 2023 3M Open

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution 6 TX), 8 degrees

3-wood: Titleist TSR3, 15 degrees

Hybrid: Titleist TSR3, 21 degrees

Irons (4-6): Titleist T100; (7-9): Titleist 620 CB; (PW): Titleist Vokey SM9

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (52, 56, 60 degrees)

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