March 9, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Russell Henley holds up the championship trophy after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Image As he prepares to defend his championship at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Russell Henry ponders whether next week’s Players Championship should be recognized as golf’s fifth major.
“I think it’s a major. It’s our home tournament. I don’t know about the stats, like it’s the best field in golf or anything, but that’s what I’m saying,” Henry told reporters Tuesday in Bay Hill, Florida.
“And the history of that tournament? I mean, I’ve always had it as a major in my mind. It’s a really demanding golf course and it generally rewards good shots. It’s visually very intimidating. If you’ve had a good week there, I feel like you’ve done a lot of really good things.”
Henry, 36, who won his fifth PGA Tour title last year by winning at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, is still seeking his first Grand Slam tournament win.
Last year, he posted a dramatic one-stroke victory over Collin Morikawa at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and tied for 30th at The Players at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
“If you look at (the Players’) past champions, they haven’t really favored any one player. People don’t usually go for back-to-back wins unless it’s Scottie (Scheffler, 2023-24),” Henley said. “But it’s a tournament I always look forward to, I like a challenge, and yes, it’s one of those tournaments I think is a major.”
Henley was asked how high he would rank his win at The Players among other major tournaments.
“I mean, when you win on a golf course with that kind of history, I think it definitely proves you can do it anywhere,” he said. “I think it’s really hard to plug a hole, when you’re leading.”
Back to the task at hand this week, Henley recalled the clutch play that earned him the champion’s red cardigan at Bay Hill last year. He eagled the par-5 16th and closed with two pars for his first win since the 2022 World Wide Technology Classic.
“When the chip went in on 16, I knew I had a lot of work to do because the tournament was far from over, I only had one lead left, and there were two really difficult holes to play,” he said. “I knew Colin was playing great and I knew he would play great under pressure, as he always does. I was really proud of myself for going through all the emotional ups and downs and sticking through the day and seeing it through to the end.”
Henry is seeking to become the first person to win back-to-back Arnold Palmer Invitationals since Matt Every in 2014 and 2015.
–Field level media
