Tranlate this title Russell Henley triumphs at the Charles Schwab in spanish

Russell Henley closed out the Charles Schwab Challenge with a bang, taking victory on the first playoff hole with a birdie that completed an incredible streak of four consecutive birdies. On the historic Colonial course, Henley overtook Eric Cole after a thrilling finish.

Starting three shots behind the leaderboard after saving par on the 15th, the 37-year-old from Georgia fired up the pace: birdie on the 16th (a par-3, 500-foot hole) with a 15-foot putt, birdie on the 17th, and another on the 18th with a 18-foot putt that tied the score at -12. In the playoff, again on the 18th, both hit the fairway (Cole with a lucky shot that bounced out of the rough), but Henley played the better wedge and closed with a birdie from 5 feet.

Russell Henley, statements

“I’m still speechless,” Henley said after his final-round 67 (-3) and sixth victory on the PGA Tour. “I’ve played well in recent years, but every victory demands everything from me: it’s a huge mental effort. Every time you cross the finish line, it’s special.”

Cole, making his 120th start on Tour since his 2021 debut, led the leaderboard for much of the final round, starting with a two-shot lead after Saturday’s 63. He closed with a 70 (par), making pars on the final seven holes of the regular round plus the playoff. He made a double bogey on the ninth (a par-4 of 364 meters) after an inaccurate drive and a water-bound approach, but showed great character with several key saves, especially from the bunker on the 12th. “I’m proud of the way I played,” Cole commented. “I played solid for the most part. I just missed one shot somewhere. It’s disappointing, but I’m staying positive.”

Ben Griffin finished third, 11 points behind, after a solid 65, narrowly missing out on history: he would have become the first since Ben Hogan to win back-to-back at Colonial. Alex Smalley and Mac Meissner rounded out the podium tied for second.

The win is worth $1.78 million, the famous plaid jacket, and a customized 1982 Jeep Scrambler.

A victory of character on one of the most iconic courses on the PGA Tour, where Hogan’s legacy (five wins between the 1940s and 1950s) continues to be a legendary backdrop. Henley has written his own chapter.