Former Georgia golfer Russell Henley making run at Green Jacket with hot start to final round
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Sixteen years ago, Russell Henley was a member of the Georgia men’s golf team. He won the 2010 Hawkins Award (college golf’s version of the Heisman Trophy) and was the low amateur scorer in the U.S. Open that same year.
He could now be just a few hours away from his first major championship on the pro circuit. And it’s not just any major. Through nine holes, Henley is -10 on the final day of the Masters, one stroke back of Cameron Young for the lead.
Henley didn’t have the best start during Thursday’s first round, shooting a 73 to finish the day at +1 after his five birdies on the day were wiped out by six bogeys. On Friday, he shot a -2 on the back nine and was -3 through 16, but finished with back-to-back bogeys to end at even par for the tournament.
Since Saturday’s third round, though, Henley has hit a new gear. He made six birdies during a bogey-free round to improve to -6 for the championship. His four birdies through the first eight holes of Sunday’s final round put him just two back of the lead.
Bubba Watson is the only former UGA golfer to win the Masters, donning the green jacket in 2012 and 2014. Will Henley do the same? Can McIlroy become just the fourth back-to-back Masters champion and the first since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002? Or will another name emerge? Kalshi is taking action now.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
