Russell Henley

Amateur career

Born in Macon, Georgia, Henley attended Stratford Academy in Macon. He played college golf for four years at the University of Georgia in Athens. He won the 2010 Haskins Award as the most outstanding collegiate golfer and played in the U.S. Open and tied for the low amateur (with Scott Langley). He also played in two Nationwide Tour events in 2010: the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational and the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA.

In 2011, Henley won the Stadion Classic at UGA on the Nationwide Tour, only the second amateur to win on that tour. The tournament was played on the University of Georgia's home course. Henley represented the U.S. that year at the Walker Cup and Palmer Cup competitions.

Professional career

Henley made his professional debut at the Nationwide Tour's Soboba Golf Classic in September 2011. A year later, he won the Chiquita Classic, defeating Patrick Cantlay and Morgan Hoffmann in a playoff. In October 2012, he won his second title of the year at the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open. On the 72nd hole, he made 25 ft putt for birdie to force playoff against B.J. Staten. He made par on the first playoff hole to earn the win. He graduated from the Web.com Tour (formerly the Nationwide Tour), to the PGA Tour, by finishing third on the money list in 2012.

PGA Tour

Henley became the first PGA Tour rookie to win his debut in 12 years with a record-setting performance at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2013. He finished at 256 (–24), breaking the Sony Open scoring record by four shots. It was the second-lowest score for a 72-hole tournament in PGA Tour history, two shots behind Tommy Armour III at the Valero Texas Open in 2003. The win gave Henley an invitation to the Masters and the PGA Championship.

Henley won his second PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic in Florida in March 2014. In difficult conditions on Sunday, Henley shot a two-over-par round of 72 to make it into a four-man playoff with Russell Knox, Rory McIlroy, and Ryan Palmer. At the first playoff hole, the par-five 18th, Henley was the only one of the four players to find the green in two. Knox, McIlroy and Palmer all failed to get down in two, leaving Henley to hole from three feet for victory. He climbed into the world's top 50 as a result of this win and qualified for the upcoming Masters.

In April 2017, Henley won his third tour event at the Shell Houston Open in Texas. He started the round four strokes behind 54-hole leader Kang Sung-hoon. Henley shot a final round 65 (−7), which included ten birdies and a double-bogey (ninth hole), to win by three shots over runner-up Kang. With the win, he secured the final spot in the next week's Masters and also a spot into the PGA Championship in August. At the 2021 U.S. Open, Henley held a share of the lead after the first, second, and third rounds. However, he faltered in the final round and shot a 5-over par 76 to finish in a tie for 13th.

Henley won the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba for his first PGA Tour win in five years. He won by four shots ahead of Brian Harman, hitting a record-equalling score of 23-under par.

At the 2023 Masters Tournament, Henley finished tied for fourth after a final round 70. This is his best finish in a major.

In March 2025, Henley won the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one stroke over Collin Morikawa. Henley trailed Morikawa by three shots with five holes to play, but Henley made birdie on the 14th hole while Morikawa made bogey. Then on the par-5 16th hole, Henley chipped in for eagle while Morikawa made par.

Professional wins (8)

PGA Tour wins (5)

PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)

Web.com Tour wins (3)

Web.com Tour playoff record (2–0)

Results in major championships

Results not in chronological order in 2020.

LA = low amateur

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

• Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (2016 PGA – 2018 U.S. Open)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice, current)

Results in The Players Championship

CUT = missed the halfway cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

C = Canceled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Results in World Golf Championships

Results not in chronological order before 2015.

1Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play

"T" = Tied

NT = No tournament

Note that the Championship and Invitational were discontinued from 2022. The Champions was discontinued from 2023.

PGA Tour career summary

Henley was an amateur.

• As of the 2024 season

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

• Palmer Cup: 2010 (winners), 2011 (winners)
• Walker Cup: 2011

Professional

• Ryder Cup: 2025
• Presidents Cup: 2024 (winners)

References

References

1. (April 9, 2013). "Q&A with Russell Henley: Charleston PGA rookie prepares for his first Masters". [[The Post and Courier]].
2. "Russell Henley profile". University of Georgia.
3. "Russell Henley profile". ESPN.
4. (May 8, 2011). "Amateur Henley holds on at home-course Stadion Classic". PGA Tour.
5. (January 14, 2013). "Russell Henley wins PGA Tour debut". ESPN.
6. (January 13, 2013}}{{dead link). "Russell Henley, with a smashing debut, wins rookie debut on PGA Tour at Sony Open". [[The Washington Post]].
7. (March 3, 2014). "Week 9: Russell Henley Survives four way play off moving inside the world Top 50". OWGR.
8. (March 3, 2014). "Russell Henley wins playoff at Honda". ESPN.
9. Ferguson, Doug. (March 9, 2025). "Russell Henley with a late charge and a big eagle wins Bay Hill for biggest career win". Associated Press News.
10. (March 9, 2025). "Russell Henley overtakes Collin Morikawa to nab Arnold Palmer title". Yardbarker.
11. "Official Money". PGA Tour.
12. "Career Money Leaders". PGA Tour.
13. "Russell Henley Profile". PGA Tour.