Columbus resident Russell Henley credits wife with helping $1.7M tournament victory
Columbus resident Russell Henley overcame a three-shot deficit during the final three holes of regulation play and prevailed in a playoff Sunday to win the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Henley, 37, attended Stratford Academy in Macon, graduated from high school in 2007 and played for the University of Georgia. He married artist Teil Duncan of Columbus, where they live with their three children.
His string of four straight birdies from the 16th hole through the playoff hole at Colonial clinched the victory over third-round leader Eric Cole. Henley finished at 12-under 268, including 3-under 67 in the final round.
“When I made it the putt on 17,” he said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I knew that I had a chance to put a little pressure if I played 18 well, and so just seeing those putts go in. Just kept fighting, and just got a little bit of momentum, and hard to believe I’m sitting here.”
Henley described his mindset going into the playoff.
“I was still kind of running on pure adrenaline at that moment,” he said. “I was glad I got to go hit a few balls off one tee while I was waiting, just to kind of swing my arms a little bit and just kind of try to get into a little bit of a rhythm, because I was very excited. So that was huge for me, and then just continued on into the last hole, and, yeah, crazy finish. I’m just over the moon.”
This is the sixth tournament title of Henley’s professional career since joining the PGA Tour 13 years ago and his first since winning the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Fla.
With the victory Sunday, Henley earned $1,782,000, boosting his career earnings to $51,462,577.
Henley has four top-10 finishes among the 12 events he has played in this year, including a tie for third at the Masters in his home state of Georgia on his birthday. He is fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Making this victory extra meaningful for Henley was sharing it with his wife and their three children as they celebrated together at the 18th green.
“My wife is my best friend, and just gives me so much confidence,” Henley said. “And this morning I called her when I was at the course. I just asked if she would pray for me and pray for the ability to fight and the ability to have dependence on the Lord, while I was out there, and so she’s just my best friend and gives me so much confidence and just supports me so well. [She] gives me the freedom to go play well, or play poorly. So just so special to have them with me. I love them so much.”
