Russell Henley shot a final-round 70 featuring a chip-in for eagle at the par-5 16th as well as three birdies and three bogeys to reach 11-under and win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one shot. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green (6.382).
“I’ve grown up watching this event and just seeing all the amazing finishes coming down the stretch, and you never really think you’re going to get that opportunity to come down the 18th and make a par to win. It’s really just hard to take in right now. It’s a tremendous honor, and that’s what’s so cool about this game, is to go play where all the legends have played,” said Henley.
“I’ve tried to just work really hard in all aspects of my game to try to put myself in position to win tournaments and compete at the highest possible level on the biggest and best courses, and just crazy that it happened like that. It’s just hard to take in. I can’t explain it.
“Also, just the pressure of knowing that Collin was going to play so steady and knowing that I had to play steady. It almost made me kind of realize it was just so far from over, knowing that I knew he was going to hit great shots coming down the last two holes as well. So just tremendously hard to win out here.”
This victory was his fourth top-10 finish in six starts this season, the most of any player on Tour. Russell entered the week with 10 top-10 finishes since 2024, tied for the most on Tour without a victory (Sungjae Im).
54-hole leader Collin Morikawa of the United States carded a 72 having made three birdies and three bogeys to collect his 11th career runner-up finish and fourth since the start of the 2024 season, the most of any player on Tour, and marks his second runner-up this season (The Sentry).
Canadian Corey Conners made a single birdie and posted the only bogey-free final round for a 71 and solo third place at 9-under. This was his fifth consecutive top-25 finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and matches his solo-third finish in 2021. He qualified for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush through the Open Qualifying Series as the top finisher not otherwise exempt.
After qualifying through the Aon Next 10, American Michael Kim signed for a 69 to post his second top-10 in as many weeks and third of the season (T2/WM Phoenix Open, T6/Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches).
American World number 1 Scottie Scheffler carded a 70 to finish T11 at 4-under while number 2 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland signed for a 72 and tied for 15th at 3-under.
