PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Russell Henley lastly made a bogey, and that is about all that went unsuitable for him Sunday as he closed with a 1-under 70 for a four-shot victory within the World Large Know-how Championship at Mayakoba.
Henley, staked to a six-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical at El Camaleon, had the lead decreased to a few when he missed a 5-foot par putt on the par-5 fifth gap.
He responded with three straight birdies, and nobody obtained nearer than 4 photographs the remainder of the best way.
Henley received for the fourth time on the PGA Tour, and the primary time for the reason that Houston Open 5 years in the past.
The earlier 5 occasions Henley had no less than a share of the 54-hole lead, he did not convert the victory. The newest was the Sony Open in January, when Hideki Matsuyama made up a two-shot deficit and beat him in a playoff.
“I simply tried to be taught from my previous and my screw-ups,” Henley stated with a smile. “All these occasions I did not shut out, they damage. You by no means know should you’ll win one other. To return down 18 with a four-shot lead was actually cool.”
Henley completed at 23-under 261 to tie the match document. He got here into the ultimate spherical as the one participant who had not made a bogey all week.
Brian Harman closed with a 66 to complete alone in second, whereas the group 5 photographs behind included Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and Seamus Power of Eire, who was coming off a victory final week in Bermuda.
Scheffler misplaced the No. 1 rating he had held since March when Rory McIlroy received the CJ Cup two weeks in the past. Scheffler closed with a 62 at Mayakoba, leaving him a very good likelihood to reclaim the No. 1 rating subsequent week on the Houston Open.
McIlroy shouldn’t be taking part in once more till the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Energy shot a 68, and his tie for third with Scheffler, Joel Dahmen, Troy Merritt and Will Gordon put the Irishman atop the FedEx Cup standings and moved him to No. 29 on the earth, his highest rating ever.
Henley moved to No. 33 on the earth and is assured of returning to the Masters. Final time, he did not safe a spot at Augusta Nationwide till transferring into the highest 50 every week earlier than the Masters.
Henley misplaced three-shot leads on the Wyndham Championship in 2021 and the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in 2020. The opposite occasions he was both tied or led by one or two photographs, which isn’t a lot of a lead on the PGA Tour.
This was a six-shot margin, and it is uncommon for somebody to not win from there. That did not make it any simpler.
“It is powerful. I do not sleep properly on a lead. I would like much more apply,” Henley stated. “I don’t know how Tiger did this 80-some occasions. It is powerful for me simply to sort of settle down. You undoubtedly do not feel the identical as once you’re practising at house, however that is the enjoyable of it. That is why we play.
“We wish to see what we’re product of out right here and get examined beneath strain.”
The victory additionally sends Henley to Kapalua in January for the Sentry Event of Champions, the primary elevated occasion in a brand new yr of huge purses.
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