Russell Henley’s 7-Word Apologetic Message to Collin Morikawa At Arnold Palmer

For much of Sunday’s final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it appeared as though Collin Morikawa would cruise to victory. He led by two or three strokes for most of the day at Bay Hill Golf Club & Lounge.

Then, the tournament was flipped on its head on the par-5 16th.

Russell Henley, playing alongside Morikawa, had closed the deficit to one shot.

His approach shot on 16, though, found the rough. He was faced with a very difficult lie. Meanwhile, Morikawa sat in the center of the green with a long birdie putt.

But before the two-time major champion had a chance at his par-breaker, Henley did the unthinkable.

Henley holed out for eagle from 54 feet. However, there was quite a bit of luck in the chip. It had so much pace that had the ball not hit the hole, he was likely looking at a very long putt coming back, if not chipping from off the green.

Morikawa ended up making par, suddenly finding himself trailing for the first time all day.

Both players would par out from there, clinching victory for the Georgia Bulldog.

Following the win, Henley expressed some gratitude with an apologetic tone for Morikawa.

“Hats off to Collin. He played great today, super steady,” he said. Henley then addressed the bit of luck he received.

“Sometimes golf is just mean like that,” Henley said, referring to the grueling nature in which Morikawa was beaten.

Morikawa, the 28-year-old two-time major champion, posted a final round Even Par 72. On a day where scoring was hard to come by for everyone outside of Keegan Bradley, it appeared just finishing in double digits would be enough for the win.

That did not prove to be the case, as Henley’s eagle chip and steady pars on 17 and 18 clinched the victory at 11-under.

Collin Morikawa is playing extremely well thus far on the 2025 PGA Tour season. He finished solo second at The Sentry to open the year. He followed that up with a pair of T17 finishes at the Pebble Beach Pro-AM and the Genesis Invitational.

Nevertheless, he is left searching for his first win since the ZOZO Championship in late 2023.

Meanwhile, Henley won his fifth PGA Tour title and easily the biggest tournament of his pro career.

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