Russell Henley made a lasting impression in his rookie debut on the PGA Tour with a record-setting performance Sunday in the Sony Open.
Tied for the lead with fellow rookie Scott Langley to start the final round in Honolulu, Henley seized control with a birdie on the opening hole and then poured it on at the end.
He closed with five straight birdies for a 7-under 63, finally showing emotion with a sweeping uppercut when his 8-foot putt disappeared at No. 18.
He won by three shots over Tim Clark, who birdied seven of his last 11 holes and made up only one shot on the rookie from Georgia.
Henley finished at 24-under 256, breaking by four shots the Sony Open scoring record last set by Brad Faxon in 2001.
It was the second-lowest score for a 72-hole tournament in PGA Tour history, two shots behind Tommy Armour III in 2003 at the Texas Open.
He became the first PGA Tour rookie to win his debut since Garrett Willis in the 2001 Tucson Open. And the way he putts, there’s no telling where this will lead.
For starters, the 23-year-old from Macon, Ga., can add a local event to his schedule — he’s going to the Masters in April.
“I don’t really know what happened, honestly,” Henley said. “This is the most nervous I’ve ever been. That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s been my goal to make it to the Masters my whole life. I’m kind of speechless right now.”
OOSTHUIZEN WINS
Louis Oosthuizen shot a 6-under 66 to beat Scott Jamieson of Scotland by a single stroke and win the Volvo Champions in Durban, South Africa.
Oosthuizen played 72 holes at Durban Country Club in 272 strokes, 16 under par, to wrap up the win after the Scot narrowly missed a chip for eagle.
Tracking Locals on the PGA Tour
Last week: Sony Open, Waialae Country Club, Honolulu.
In the field: Olympia’s Andres Gonzales, Puyallup’s Ryan Moore and Gig Harbor’s Kyle Stanley.
Final-round score: Stanley (1-under 279) tied for 67th, 23 strokes behind winner Russell Henley (24-under 256). He earned $11,312 to bring his season total to $72,312. Moore and Gonzales missed the cut Friday.
Recap: Stanley was even-par on his round through 14 holes, but finished with three consecutive bogeys, at No. 6 (drive into right fairway bunker), No. 7 (par-3 tee shot into right greenside bunker) and No. 8 (approach into right greenside bunker).
Next for Stanley: Humana Challenge starting Thursday at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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