It was a heartwarming scene Sunday on the 18th at Bay Hill, where Russell Henley was greeted by wife Teil and their three children following his fifth PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.
In a final-round duel against Collin Morikawa, Henley — who posted a 1-over 37 in the front nine to Morikawa’s 1-under 35 — edged his way to the top of the leaderboard with a birdie on the 14th and a dramatic chip-in eagle on the par-5 16th to claim the victory at a 2-under 70.
Morikawa shot an even 72.
“I didn’t really feel like I had a great chance at that point, and Collin was just playing so steady, like he always does,” Henley said Sunday, according to the Associated Press. “So just to hang in there enough to give myself some looks is what I’ll take from this day.”
As Henley sealed the fifth PGA Tour victory of his career, Teil and the couple’s kids watched nearby before meeting the 35-year-old golfer on the green.
Henley then embraced Teil, whom he said “puts steel in my spine.” The couple has been married since 2015.
“Just crazy that it happened like that,” Henley said of the win.
In addition to scooping up $4 million of the $20 million purse, Henley will crack the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings following Sunday’s victory.
He was also awarded the event’s signature red cardigan, a moment that left Henley in utter disbelief.
“It’s still surreal wearing this thing up here,” Henley said.
Entering Sunday, Henley’s most recent PGA Tour win had come in Nov. 2022 at the World Wide Technology Championship.
He placed fifth at The Open last July.
Up next is The Players Championship, which begins Thursday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., while the first major of the season, the 2025 Masters, is roughly a month away.
Henley’s best finish at Augusta National was two years ago, a three-way tie for fourth place with Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth.
