A Look At Russell Henley's 5 Career PGA Tour Victories
A 35-year-old PGA Tour veteran, Russell Henley has had a solid 12-year career, earning more than $37 million in prize money and being selected for Team USA in the 2024 Presidents Cup. He achieved arguably the greatest accomplishment of his career on March 9, 2025, however, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and breaking into the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Henley trailed fellow American Collin Morikawa by three strokes after the 13th hole in Sunday's final round, but made clutch shots on the par-3 14th and par-5 16th holes to complete the comeback and win his first PGA Tour event in nearly 900 days. He hit his tee shot to within 10 feet of the cup on 14 and made birdie, while Morikawa settled for bogey, cutting the deficit to one stroke. Henley, on the 16th, chipped in for eagle from more than 50 feet from the pin. Morikawa made par, giving Henley a one-stroke lead that he maintained for the final two holes with consecutive pars. Henley finished the tournament at 11-under 277 and won the $4 million first-place prize.
Although this was Henley's fifth career PGA Tour title, it was his most impressive win considering the strength of competition, which included world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. Here's a look back at his first four victories on the PGA Tour.
World Wide Technology Championship (2022)
Henley had to wait even longer between victories when he finally won his fourth career PGA Tour title in 2022. He tied the 72-hole tournament record with a 23-under 261 at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, played at the El Camaleon Golf Course in Mexico. It was the first win in five years for Henley, who rode an impressive performance in his first three rounds to secure a four-stroke victory over his former University of Georgia teammate Brian Harman.
Henley didn't record a single bogey in the first three rounds, following which he had a six-stroke lead on the field. However, he had a history of blowing 54-hole leads, including at the 2021 U.S. Open, where he shot a final round 76 to fall back to T13. He had failed to win each of the five previous events in which he had the lead after three rounds.
"I've just choked, you know. The nerves have gotten to me and I've made bad mistakes, bad mental mistakes and just haven't gotten it done on Sunday," Henley said of his past failures, speaking to Golfweek. "All those events that I didn't close on, they hurt. You don't know if you'll ever get to win one more. To win out here is hard."
Shell Houston Open (2017)
Before he had blown five consecutive 54-hole leads in PGA Tour events, Henley was the champion at the 2017 Shell Houston Open. He won his third career title in come-from-behind fashion, rallying from a four-stroke deficit in the final round to win the $1.26 million first prize at the Golf Club of Houston. He also qualified for The Masters.
Henley shot a final round score of 7-under 65 to finish at 20-under par. South Korean Sung Kang, who led after the second and third rounds, shot an even par 72 in the final round, settling for second place at 17-under. Rickie Fowler and Luke List finished tied for third at 16-under. Henley was the only player to card four consecutive sub-70 rounds (67, 67, 69, and 65).
The Honda Classic (2014)
Henley won for the second time in just his second year on the PGA Tour, beating three other players—Rory McIlroy, Russell Knox, and Ryan Palmer—in a playoff at the 2014 Honda Classic at PGA National. Henley had a chance to win on the 18th hole, setting himself up for what appeared to be an easy chip and putt for birdie, but left his chip short and had to make a two-putt from 60 feet for par. He did that to finish at 8-under 272.
In the playoff, on the same par-5 18th where his chunked chip shot cost him a chance to win his second career PGA Tour title in regulation, Henley drove the green to within 40 feet of the pin on his second shot and made the two-putt for birdie. McIlroy, Knox, and Palmer all settled for par.
Sony Open in Hawaii (2013)
Henley burst onto the PGA Tour in 2013, winning the Sony Open in Hawaii in his first career start. He was the first PGA Tour rookie to win his debut event since Garrett Willis won the Tucson Open in 2001. Moreover, Henley's 24-under 256 broke the previous Sony Open scoring record, held by Brad Faxon (2001) and John Huston (1998), by four strokes and had the second-lowest 72-hole score in PGA Tour history.
Henley entered the final round tied with fellow rookie Scott Langley and shot a 7-under 63, including a 29 on the back nine with five consecutive birdies to close out the round.