April 8, 2025
When you think of must-have guys at The Masters, Russell Henley may not immediately come to mind. He only has one top-10 in eight career starts (T4 in 2023), but he also doesn't get things going too sideways with only one missed cut. 2025 has been good for the 35-year-old, with a win at the API, another top-5, and two top-10 finishes. Other than off the tee (-0.059), he ranks inside the top 25 for every other strokes gained metric. Having success at Augusta National from tee to green revolves around hitting as many greens as possible, and taking advantage of par-5s. Henley does both extremely well, ranking third on the season in greens in regulation (72.82%) and 31st in par-5 scoring average (4.54). Look for the former Georgia Bulldog to surprise some people this week.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 11, 2025
For a guy like Russell Henley, his win this past week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was a game-changer. It may have been his fifth PGA Tour victory, but the size and importance of this win are far greater than the other four times he's lifted a trophy. The short game was on fire at Bay Hill, as he led the field in strokes gained around the green (+1.59) and was 10th in strokes gained putting (+0.91). Ball striking was fine, but approach numbers were slightly misleading due to a bad first round that featured 20+ mph winds. If the hangover isn't too great for the 35-year-old, there is little reason to doubt his game going into the PGA Tour's flagship event.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 3, 2025
Russell Henley finished tied for sixth at last week's Cognizant Classic and is now preparing to tee it up at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club for this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. Henley has not missed a cut in 2025 and finished tied for fourth at this tournament in 2024 while finishing T53 in 2023. It's important to note that at last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational, over 35% of approach shots were taken from 150-200 yards. Over the past 12 months, Henley has ranked in the 75th percentile for approach shots from this distance in the fairway. Henley could be a strong addition to DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
February 25, 2025
It's tough to think about PGA National without thinking of Russell Henley's epic playoff win in 2014 that included a young and spry Rory McIlroy. Since then, he's continued to play well here, including a T3 in 2021 and a T8 in 2020. Given the draw-biased nature of the layout at the Champion Course and the bermudagrass surfaces, it fits Henley's game from wall to wall. It's been an impressive start to his 13th year on the PGA Tour with a T5 at Pebble Beach, and a T10 at the Sony Open thanks to strong play with the irons and putter. Ranking 24th in both strokes gained metrics. If the driver doesn't kill him, the former Georgia Bulldog could become a repeat champion in Palm Beach Gardens come Sunday evening.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour