ATLANTA — Russell Henley gave Georgia Bulldogs followers loads of motive to bark Sunday afternoon at East Lake Golf Membership.
The Macon native and former College of Georgia star rode the home-crowd vibes to a 9-under-par 62 within the remaining spherical of the Tour Championship.
Henley shot the bottom spherical of the match due to his remaining shot, a pitch-in eagle on the par-5 18th. After lacking left, Henley had the entire inexperienced to work with, and his shot took two fast skips and tracked straight into the outlet.
A chip-in eagle for a Sunday 62?!
Unbelievable ending to the #FedExCup Playoffs for Russell Henley ?? pic.twitter.com/wDCaRkn7ZY
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 1, 2024
Henley, 35, carded 4 birdies on the entrance 9 and took his solely bogey of the day at No. 10 earlier than responding with birdies at Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 17.
“Made a 20-footer or so on 4, which is a tricky gap for me particularly,” Henley stated. “It is one of many longer ones straight uphill. You have to hit a very flush excessive second shot to land it comfortable sufficient on that inexperienced as a result of the greens are new, in order that was a very huge birdie for me.”
At 19 beneath par, Henley completed in a tie for fourth with Xander Schauffele and Australia’s Adam Scott. The veteran clearly performs properly in Atlanta; this was simply his fourth time reaching the Tour Championship, however he tied for third right here in 2017.
The query of what is subsequent for Henley will probably be answered Tuesday. He’s gunning to make the U.S. Presidents Cup crew as a captain’s choose, which might mark his first worldwide competitors as a professional.
Henley stated he hoped captain Jim Furyk was following his spherical Sunday.
“Clearly a dream of mine to — why I work so laborious is to make one among these groups,” Henley stated. “Hopefully it really works out.”
Six gamers mechanically certified for the U.S. crew primarily based on a factors system. Henley completed ninth in these standings, and his competitors for a spot on the crew contains larger names like Tony Finau, Sam Burns, Keegan Bradley, Max Homa and Georgia native Brian Harman.
“I positively really feel like athletically I haven’t got what lots of these guys have when it comes to distance and stuff,” Henley defined. “I at all times really feel like I have been a grinder and a fighter, and I feel I might positively try this for the crew.”
Henley was busy on the course taking part in his third spherical Saturday when, elsewhere in Atlanta, his Bulldogs soccer crew opened the season by blowing out Clemson 34-3.
“I want I’d have seen it,” Henley stated. “They’re wanting good, although.”
–Adam Zielonka, Area Stage Media
