Russell Henley snatches Arnold Palmer Invitational win after Collin Morikawa stumble

MIAMI – Russell Henley fired a two-under 70 to snatch victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 9, conjuring a magical eagle in a late charge down the stretch to reel in Collin Morikawa.

The 35-year-old Henley bagged the fifth and biggest PGA Tour win of his career after erasing Morikawa’s three-shot lead over the final five holes at the Bay Hill Club Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

Henley’s closing two-under 70 left him on 11-under 277 for the tournament, with Morikawa’s final-round 72 putting him a stroke back.

After being congratulated by his watching wife and children on the 18th, Henley admitted he had been “unbelievably nervous” before sealing his win.

“I can’t breathe right now. It’s just so hard and difficult around this place,” he told NBC Sports.

“I just tried to hang tough and keep committing to every shot. This game is just so hard and that was unbelievably difficult.

“I’ve tried to just work really hard in all aspects of my game to try to put myself in position to win tournaments and compete at the highest possible level on the biggest and best courses. Just crazy that it happened like that. It’s just hard to take in.”

Henley, whose last tournament win came at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico in 2022, looked set for another near-miss with Morikawa seemingly in control after 13 holes.

However, Morikawa’s lead was slashed to one shot on the 14th, when he missed a difficult 12-foot putt for par, before Henley rolled in an awkward 10-foot birdie putt to complete a two-shot swing.

After the Americans both parred the 15th, Henley then edged ahead on the par-five 16th with a stroke of genius, chipping in for eagle from the back of the green to take the lead.

Morikawa