Georgia's Russell Henley takes clubhouse lead in U.S. Open at Torrey Pines
Former Georgia star Russell Henley birded the par-5 18th hole on Thursday at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines to grab the clubhouse lead with a 4-under 67 in the third major of the season.
Henley bogeyed No. 1 and No. 12, but birdied Nos. 5, 7 and 8, along with 10 and 15. He admitted after the round during an interview on The Golf Channel/NBC Sports that he hasn’t played well in majors or U.S. Opens.
During a review of highlights of his round, Henley said he played a few feet of break on all of his putts, and he said his practice rounds focused on allowing for a lot of break.
“I putted nice and am happy with how I’ve played,” Henley said, but offered a candid response about playing in majors. “I’m still trying to figure it out. I haven’t exactly played great, consistently in the majors, or in U.S. Opens and contending or anything. For me, it’s just being comfortable and I think that’s why you see a lot of the highest-ranked players continue to do this. They’re just comfortable in tough situations on tough courses. So I’m working my way towards that trying to get more comfortable out here and it’s just a tough test and you’ve got to hang around.”
When Henley reached the clubhouse, he had a one shot lead over Rafa Cabrera Bello, and Francisco Molanari and Brooks Koepka were each at -2.
Russell Henley sets the first round clubhouse lead at the U.S. Open with a -4, 67! #DawgsOnTour
— Dawgs On Tour (@DawgsOnTour) June 17, 2021