It still hurts when Russell Henley recalls last year’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
Are you unsure of what happened? After taking a lead of two shots entering the final round, he shot a Sunday 65, had a putt for victory, but was defeated by Hideki Matsuyama who won a playoff with a back nine 31. Matsuyama won the trophy after hitting a stunning 3-wood to two feet at 276 yards on the par-5 18 .
Henley was able to see Matsuyama at WM Phoenix Open a few months later.
Henley joked that he just walked up to him and said, “Hey, there buddy,” and then grabbed his 3-wood. He almost broke my knee.” He played amazing. He shot 63-63 over the weekend, and that’s what happens in golf when you lose. There are no hard feelings, however. “I was just playing around.”
Henley and Matsuyama were past champions and are among the eight players in this year’s Sony Open at Waialae Country Club, Honolulu. Tom Kim is also in the field, making his Sony debut. 19 of the 39 players who teed it up at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua last week, have hopped islands from Oahu to take part in the PGA Tour’s Hawaii Double.
Despite his disappointing performance last year, Henley will be back at the Sony Open for an 11 th crack. Henley also celebrates the 10th anniversary of his 2013 victory, which was the first in his PGA Tour career.
Henley stated that he felt at home immediately as it was a course he was familiar with. Henley said, “It seemed like a course I was familiar with, Bermudagrass, wind and warm weather, similar to what I played on in Charleston.” “Just felt really comfortable playing with Scott Langley, one my friends, and we just kinda rode the wave.”
Henley recalls his time in Waikiki, his stay at the Holiday Inn Express, and his California Pizza Kitchen meals. Henley also recalls feeling good about his game after winning two of the three Korn Ferry Tour tournaments in the fall.
This could also be true for the current season, following Henley’s victory in the fall at Mayakoba’s World Wide Technology Championship.
Henley smiled and said, “Yeah Mayakoba is awesome.” Looking back, it seems like I took what I was struggling to with from Jackson [Sanderson Farms] as well as the CJ Cup, and continued making adjustments in my game. I started to feel really good about my putter and felt really comfortable around the course.
Henley believes comfort is a key ingredient to happiness, and that it’s easy to find this feeling on the islands. Henley is sure to ride another positive wave at Waialae this week.
