Henley pips Morikawa to Arnold Palmer title

Arnold Palmer Invitational: Final leaderboard

-11 R Henley (US), -10 C Morikawa (US), -9 C Conners (Can), -8 M Kim (US), -7 K Bradley (US), S Straka (Aut), -6 S Lowry (Ire), -5 B An (Kor), J Rose (Eng), J Day (Aus)

Russell Henley chipped in for an eagle with two holes to play to pip Collin Morikawa to the biggest title of his career at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The American shot a two-under-par final round of 70 to finish on 11 under at Bay Hill in Orlando, with compatriot Morikawa one stroke back.

Henley was two over through 10 holes before birdies on the 12th and 14th brought him back into contention.

He trailed Morikawa by one shot before his eagle chip from just off the 16th green moved him clear of the two-time major champion, who then missed a birdie putt.

“Hats off to Collin, he played great, super-steady, but sometimes golf is just mean like that”, Henley, 35, told CBS.

“I was so nervous, so unbelievably nervous. I can’t breathe right now. It’s so hard and so difficult around this place.

” I just tried to stay really tough. I’ve watched Tiger]Woods] make a lot of putts on this green. I’ve watched Rory]McIlroy], Fran]Francesco Molinari] and Bryson]DeChambeau] make winning putts here, and it’s cool to know I did it too. “

The victory was his first since the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship, his fifth on the PGA Tour and his first at a signature event.

Canada’s Corey Conners placed third on nine under, qualifying him for the Open at Royal Portrush, with American Michael Kim fourth, one shot behind.

His compatriot Keegan Bradley had recorded the lowest front-nine score in course history at seven-under 29, but finished on 64 – tied for fifth with Austria’s Sepp Straka.