ATLANTA — Russell Henley gave Georgia Bulldogs fans plenty of reason to bark Sunday afternoon at East Lake Golf Club.
The Macon native and former University of Georgia star rode the home-crowd vibes to a 9-under-par 62 in the final round of the Tour Championship.
Henley shot the lowest round of the tournament thanks to his final shot, a pitch-in eagle at the par-5 18th. After missing left, Henley had the whole green to work with, and his shot took two quick skips and tracked straight into the hole.
Henley, 35, carded four birdies on the front nine and took his only bogey of the day at No. 10 before responding with birdies at Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 17.
“Made a 20-footer or so on 4, which is a tough hole for me especially,” Henley said. “It’s one of the longer ones straight uphill. You’ve got to hit a really flush high second shot to land it soft enough on that green because the greens are new, so that was a really big birdie for me.”
At 19 under par, Henley finished in a tie for fourth with Xander Schauffele and Australia’s Adam Scott. The veteran clearly plays well in Atlanta; this was just his fourth time reaching the Tour Championship, but he tied for third here in 2017.
The question of what’s next for Henley will be answered Tuesday. He is gunning to make the U.S. Presidents Cup team as a captain’s pick, which would mark his first international competition as a pro.
Henley said he hoped captain Jim Furyk was following his round Sunday.
“Obviously a dream of mine to — why I work so hard is to make one of these teams,” Henley said. “Hopefully it works out.”
Six players automatically qualified for the U.S. team based on a points system. Henley finished ninth in those standings, and his competition for a spot on the team includes bigger names like Tony Finau, Sam Burns, Keegan Bradley, Max Homa and Georgia native Brian Harman.
“I definitely feel like athletically I don’t have what a lot of these guys have in terms of distance and stuff,” Henley explained. “I always feel like I’ve been a grinder and a fighter, and I think I could definitely do that for the team.”
Henley was busy on the course playing his third round Saturday when, elsewhere in Atlanta, his Bulldogs football team opened the season by blowing out Clemson 34-3.
“I wish I would have seen it,” Henley said. “They’re looking good, though.”
–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
