Russell Henley delivered a career-defining performance at Bay Hill, capturing the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational title and strengthening his case for a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Henley posted a final-round 2-under 70 to finish at 11-under, edging out Collin Morikawa by a single stroke. Morikawa, who led heading into Sunday, seemed in control early but faltered with bogeys on the 10th and 14th holes, allowing Henley to seize the moment.
Despite a challenging start, Henley turned things around with birdies on the 12th and 14th holes before delivering a spectacular eagle chip-in at the par-5 16th to take the outright lead.
Morikawa had a chance to force a playoff but overshot his birdie attempt on the final hole, leaving Henley with a short putt to secure the win.
“I was unbelievably nervous,” Henley admitted after securing his fifth PGA Tour title. “It’s an incredible honor to win at a course where so many legends have played.”
With this victory, Henley has bolstered his chances of making his Ryder Cup debut at Bethpage Black later this year.
Elsewhere in the field, Jason Day was in contention until a costly double bogey at the 16th knocked him out of the running. He finished tied for eighth alongside Justin Rose and Ben An.
Keegan Bradley surged up the leaderboard with a final-round 64, finishing four shots back. Meanwhile, Corey Conners and Michael Kim’s top finishes earned them spots in the 2025 Open Championship field.
Scottie Scheffler narrowly missed a top-10 finish, while Rory McIlroy settled for a tie in 15th. Xander Schauffele, making his return from injury, made the cut but finished in 40th place.
Henley’s triumph at Bay Hill marks a defining moment in his career, and with the Ryder Cup on the horizon, his momentum could not have come at a better time.
