Russell Henley of the United States captured the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge, with a total purse of $9.9 million, after a strong finish down the stretch.
Henley shot a 3-under-par 67 in the final fourth round held at Colonial Country Club (par 70) in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 31 local time, carding one eagle, five birdies and four bogeys. He finished at 12-under-par 268 to tie Eric Cole of the United States, then won the title in a playoff.
The victory was Henley's first since the Arnold Palmer Invitational in May last year, marking his sixth career PGA Tour win. The winner's prize was $1.782 million (about 2.68 billion won).
It was a triumph powered by Henley's fierce concentration in the closing moments. Henley appeared to surge ahead early with an eagle on the par-5 first hole followed by a birdie on the par-4 second hole, but he gave back strokes with three consecutive bogeys from holes 3 through 5. He then traded a birdie and a bogey, treading water. But Henley reeled off three straight birdies from holes 16 through 18 to pull even with Cole. On the par-4 18th hole, Henley clinched the tie by sinking a decisive putt of about 5 meters, pumping his fist.
In the first playoff hole, replayed on the 18th, Henley placed his second shot about 1.2 meters from the cup and closed out the win with a birdie. "I'm still shaking a little. It was the most nervous putt of my life," Henley said.
Cole finished as runner-up, while Ben Griffin and Alex Smalley, both of the United States, tied for third at 11-under-par.
Kim Joo-hyung dropped four strokes to finish the tournament at even par, tied for 54th.
