Lee Hodges Bio
Lee Hodges (born June 14, 1995) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, he turned professional in 2018 and worked his way through the PGA Tour Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour before earning full status on the PGA Tour.
Hodges is best known for his breakthrough victory at the 3M Open in July 2023, where he won wire-to-wire by seven strokes. He continues to compete at the highest level of men’s professional golf and resides in Athens, Alabama.
Early Life and Background
Lee Hodges was born on June 14, 1995, in Huntsville, Alabama, and grew up in the nearby town of Ardmore. As a senior at Ardmore High School in 2014, he captured the Alabama 4A individual state championship, an early signal of the consistency and ball-striking that would later define his professional career.
Coming from a family with deep roots in northern Alabama, Hodges was introduced to golf at a young age and quickly developed a competitive résumé through junior tournaments across the state. His success at Ardmore High School made him a sought-after collegiate recruit, and he chose to begin his college career close to home.
After high school, Hodges attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he spent two seasons competing for the Blazers. He was named to the All-Conference USA first team in each of his two years and earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors in 2015, establishing himself as one of the top young amateurs in the southeastern United States.
Path to Golf
After the 2015–16 season, Hodges transferred to the University of Alabama to compete in the Southeastern Conference, widely considered the strongest conference in college golf. He spent the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons with the Crimson Tide and quickly adjusted to the higher level of competition, posting multiple top finishes against future PGA Tour players.
As a senior in 2017–18, Hodges won twice and was named to the All-SEC first team and the Ping All-America third team, alongside Alabama teammate Davis Riley in both cases. The Alabama team, which included Hodges and Riley, finished second at the 2018 NCAA Division I Championship, capping one of the strongest amateur seasons of Hodges’s career.
That summer, Hodges decided to leave college golf behind. He turned professional after the NCAA Championship and signed up for a PGA Tour Canada qualifying tournament in March 2018, where he tied for 28th and earned membership on the developmental circuit. The decision to turn pro set the course for his rise through the professional ranks.
Lee Hodges Career
Early Career (2018)
Hodges began his professional career on PGA Tour Canada in 2018. In late June, he Monday-qualified for the Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open and finished in a tie for 12th, giving him access into further events on the schedule. He then posted a third-place finish at the Staal Foundation Open and a runner-up result at the ATB Financial Classic, which moved him up the money list.
By season’s end, Hodges had placed 15th on the PGA Tour Canada money list. That finish allowed him to enter the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying tournament at the second stage, where he advanced to the final stage with a tie for third. At the final stage, he tied for 50th, one stroke short of earning eight guaranteed starts but enough to get into select early-season events.
Korn Ferry Tour Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Hodges opened the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour season with a tie for 16th at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and played a full schedule for most of the year. Entering the final week of the regular season, he was 92nd on the points list, but a season-best tie for seventh at the WinCo Foods Portland Open lifted him to 73rd and into the top 75 that earned him fully exempt status for 2020.
In 2020, Hodges enjoyed his best developmental season, recording five top-10 finishes and winning the Portland Open, a result that pushed him to third on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no graduating class in 2020 and the season extended into 2021, but his play still earned him spots in opposite-field PGA Tour events in 2021 and a start in the 2020 U.S. Open.
At the conclusion of the 2020–21 Korn Ferry Tour regular season, Hodges was 10th in points, securing his promotion to the PGA Tour for the 2021–22 season. The three-year journey through PGA Tour Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour provided the foundation for his success at the game’s highest level.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2021–Present)
As a PGA Tour rookie in 2021–22, Hodges posted his best finish at The American Express, where he tied for third and co-led after 54 holes. Three additional top-25 finishes helped him retain his card, and he entered the 2022 FedEx Cup Playoffs ranked 99th in points after the removal of LIV Golf players. He tied for 13th at the opening playoff event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but finished eight points shy of advancing to the second event.
In July 2023, Hodges claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open, winning wire-to-wire by seven shots and announcing himself as a consistent threat on tour. The performance was the culmination of years of grinding through the development tours and marked a turning point in his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hodges is known for his steady ball-striking and calm temperament, traits that served him well during his wire-to-wire win at the 3M Open. His ability to avoid big numbers and stay in the middle of the fairway allows him to contend on scoring-friendly setups, and his comfort in windy conditions has been a consistent asset.
Notable Events and Milestones
His signature moment came at the 2023 3M Open, where his seven-shot margin of victory was among the largest of the season on the PGA Tour. Earlier milestones include his 2018 win at the Portland Open on the Korn Ferry Tour and his appearance in the 2020 U.S. Open, both of which helped accelerate his path to the PGA Tour.
Lee Hodges Career Wins
Lee Hodges has compiled a verified list of professional victories that spans the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour. His development-tour win laid the groundwork for promotion to the top level, and his PGA Tour breakthrough validated years of consistent play.
Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
Hodges won the 2020 Portland Open on the Korn Ferry Tour, a victory that pushed him to third on the regular-season points list. The result was the cornerstone of his promotion campaign and eventually helped him earn fully exempt PGA Tour status.
PGA Tour Highlights
Hodges captured his first PGA Tour title at the 2023 3M Open, winning wire-to-wire by seven shots. The dominant performance remains the headline result of his PGA Tour career and established him as a proven winner at the highest level.
Lee Hodges Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lee Hodges grew up in Huntsville and Ardmore, Alabama, and developed his game in a region with a strong tradition of competitive golf. Specific details about his parents and extended family have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Hodges is married to Savannah Rae Kennedy, and the couple has been based in Athens, Alabama. He continues to live in his home state while traveling the PGA Tour schedule.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 PGA Tour season, Lee Hodges is looking to build on the momentum generated by his 2023 3M Open victory. With full tour status and the confidence of a wire-to-wire win on his résumé, he is positioned to compete in a deep field of regular events and the signature tournaments.
His experience navigating the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 2022 should also help him target a return to the postseason in 2025. Consistent ball-striking and improved play in scoring clubs will be key to climbing the FedEx Cup standings and contending for additional titles.
For Hodges, the 2025 campaign represents an opportunity to convert his breakthrough success into sustained results. With his playing base in Athens, Alabama, and a stable personal life, the focus will be on contending more frequently and pushing deeper into the playoffs than he did in his rookie campaign.