Russell Henley Outlasts Eric Cole in Playoff to Win Charles Schwab Challenge, Latest Purse and Payouts
Russell Henley rallied late to win the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, defeating Eric Cole in a playoff after Cole had held the lead for much of the final round. Henley closed with three consecutive birdies to catch Cole at the finish, then made the winning birdie on the first extra hole by sticking his approach to four feet. The victory earned Henley $1.782 million and marked the sixth PGA Tour title of his career.
Cole came into Sunday with a one-shot advantage after shooting 7-under 63 on Saturday, his best round of the week. The 37-year-old started strong again in the final round with back-to-back birdies and kept pace through much of the day, but a double bogey at the ninth hole halted his momentum. He answered with a birdie at the 11th and then played steady golf the rest of the way, finishing with seven straight pars. Despite the missed chance, Cole recorded his third runner-up finish on the PGA Tour and continued a strong stretch of play, with three top-10 finishes in his last four starts.
Henley’s round began with an eagle and a birdie, and he remained in striking distance throughout the day before delivering under pressure on the closing holes. His final-round 67 allowed him to force the playoff, where he wasted little time seizing control. Speaking after the win, Henley said he felt shaken by the moment and described the pressure as the most nervous he had ever been over a putt. The result also gave him a major boost after a season in which he said he had been working harder and trying to regain his mental edge.
Cole, who entered the week ranked No. 117 in the Official World Golf Rankings, has been building momentum despite the disappointment. He turned professional in 2009 and was making his 120th start on the PGA Tour. A former winner’s son, Cole carries a golf family legacy: his father, Bobby Cole, won the 1977 Buick Open, and his mother, Laura Baugh, was the LPGA’s Rookie of the Year in 1973. He said afterward that the loss was disappointing, but he was proud of the way he played.
Henley’s win continued a productive career that has included success at several of golf’s biggest events. He finished tied for third at the Masters last month, though he missed the cut at the PGA Championship. The Charles Schwab Challenge featured a strong payout structure across the field, with Ben Griffin, Alex Smalley and Mac Meissner tying for third, while several other notable players, including Justin Thomas, Jordan Smith and Hideki Matsuyama, finished among the top 15. The tournament again delivered a dramatic finish at one of the PGA Tour’s most historic venues, with Henley’s late charge proving decisive in the end.
