Russell Henley started the day three strokes behind the lead and fired an eagle at the par-5 1st hole, five birdies including three from the 16th as well as four bogeys to close with a 3-under 67, reach 12-under and enter a playoff for the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Overnight leader Eric Cole signed for a 70 having made three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey at the par-4 9th to reach 12-under.

Cole parred the first extra hole while Henley birdied to win his sixth PGA Tour title in his 321st start at the age of 37.

He now improves to 2-1 in playoffs:
– 2014 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (defeated Russell Knox, Rory McIlroy, Ryan Palmer)
– 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii (lost to Hideki Matsuyama)
– 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge (defeated Eric Cole)

“So the wind’s been off the right all week [at the 18th],” said Henley. “And there are these three windows in the clubhouse that I’ve been aiming at every day. We debated on hitting a cut shot off that tee to kind of fight the wind. But Andy was pretty adamant, my caddie, about just hitting a straight, trying to hit it straight at those windows every time, and if the wind hit it, which it would, that was the perfect line. So when I got back to the tee for the playoff hole I said, Do you like the same straight shot? And he said, A hundred percent. So he was very confident in our game plan. That gave me confidence. That made me feel comfortable like I was hitting the right shot. I hit a great drive, got through the ball really well. We knew it was playing really short, my lob wedge in regulation went a long way. So we played, I had 135, I think, hole, if I’m remembering right, and I hit a shot feeling like it was 115, kind of like ball above my feet, down off the right, knew it was going to take a bounce out. So we were playing a yardage that was 20 yards short because it was so hot and the ball was going. So just all of it worked out, I feel like I executed both those shots perfectly. And then was able to hit a decent putt under those circumstances. I was very nervous and just tried to stick to my same routine that I always do on every putt and commit to my line.

“Still kind of speechless about it. I was on 15, let me think, 15 in the rough, after my tee shot, and was just like, man, I got to save par to not go over par on the day. So, yeah, I didn’t really start thinking about birdieing the last three until when I made the putt on 17. I knew that I had a chance to put a little pressure if I played 18 well. So just seeing those putts go in and kind of a weird start to the day, and just kept fighting. I just got a little bit of momentum and, yeah, hard to believe I’m sitting here.”

In 12 starts this season, Henley has had four top-10 finishes, highlighted by a victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T3 finish at the Masters Tournament.

Defending champion Ben Griffin made one bogey and carded a 65 for an 11-under total and a share of third place.

Alex Smalley made a single bogey and signed for a 68 for his share of third place, earning his seventh straight top-25 finish.

Finally also T3 and rounding out the all-American top-5, Mac Meissner fired two birdies and one bogey for a 69, his second top-10 finish in his third start at the Charles Schwab Challenge (T5/2024, T28/2025, T3/2026). He sits at No. 4 in the Aon Swing 5, earning a spot in next week’s Memorial Tournament.

Aon Next 10 and Swing 5

The top five players, not otherwise exempt, who earned the most FedExCup points in the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, The CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the Charles Schwab Challenge have qualified for the Memorial Tournament via the Aon Swing 5:

The Aon Next 10 for the Memorial Tournament was determined by the top 10 FedExCup points earners, not otherwise exempt, through the Charles Schwab Challenge:

Related: Rafael Nadal to headline ‘The Battle of Stars’

2026 edition of the charity golf tournament will take place in Mallorca from June 10-12.