Bay Hill is usually where dreams go to die under the heat of the Florida sun and the pressure of a $20 million purse. But for Russell Henley, the PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025 leaderboard became the stage for the biggest heist of his career. Honestly, it didn't look like it was going to happen for him until the very last moment. Collin Morikawa had a three-shot lead on the back nine on Sunday. Most of us watching figured it was a wrap.
Then came the 16th hole.
Henley was trailing by one. He bladed a shot long and right of the green. It looked like a certain bogey, maybe worse. Instead, he pulled off a 54-foot chip-in for eagle that rattled the pin and dropped. Just like that, the lead flipped. Morikawa blinked. Henley didn't.
The Final Standings at Bay Hill
When the dust settled at Arnie’s Place, the leaderboard showed just how brutal this course can be. Only 21 players finished under par for the week. That's typical for Bay Hill; it's a "Signature Event" for a reason.
Russell Henley took the top spot at 11-under par. He carded rounds of 72, 68, 67, and a final-round 70. That consistency earned him a cool $4 million.
Collin Morikawa ended up in second place at 10-under. He’ll be kicking himself for that final-round 72, especially after starting so strong with a bunker hole-out for birdie on the first hole. He led almost all day until that disastrous swing on the 16th.
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Corey Conners quietly took third at 9-under. He played incredibly steady golf, making 15 straight pars on Sunday before finally birdieing the 16th. He just couldn't find enough circles on the scorecard to catch the leaders.
Michael Kim was the surprise of the week, finishing fourth at 8-under. He opened with a 75 but went 69-67-69 to vault up the standings and secure a massive payday.
Notable Finishes in the Top 10
- Sepp Straka and Keegan Bradley tied for 5th at 7-under. Bradley actually shot a course-record-tying 29 on the front nine on Sunday. If he hadn't carded three double bogeys on Saturday, he might have walked away with the red cardigan.
- Shane Lowry finished 7th at 6-under. He held the lead on Friday but a 76 on Saturday effectively ended his chances.
- Jason Day, Justin Rose, and Byeong Hun An all tied for 8th at 5-under.
The Moment the Tournament Flipped
Let's talk about the 16th hole again because it was basically the entire tournament in a 15-minute window. Henley's chip was moving. If it hadn't hit the flagstick, it was going at least eight feet past. It was a "mean" break for Morikawa, as Henley later admitted.
Morikawa had a 19-foot birdie putt on that same hole to tie. He missed.
Then on the par-3 17th, Henley had to make a nerve-wracking six-footer for par. He poured it right in the middle. By the time he reached the 18th green, he had two putts from 43 feet to win. He lagged it close, tapped in, and finally exhaled.
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It had been over 850 days since Henley last won on Tour. He had ten top-10 finishes in 2024 without a win. To break that streak at a Signature Event against one of the toughest fields in golf says a lot about his mental toughness.
Why Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy Fell Short
Everyone expected the big guns to dominate. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champ, never really got the putter hot. He finished T11 at 4-under. He was striking the ball beautifully, as usual, but you can't win at Bay Hill if you're missing ten-footers for birdie.
Rory McIlroy was even more of a rollercoaster. He finished T15 at 3-under. Rory's weekend was a mess of brilliant drives followed by odd wedges and missed par saves. He just couldn't find the rhythm needed to survive the Florida Swing's most difficult test.
The Underdog Story: Michael Kim
Kim wasn't even on most people's radars heading into Thursday. After that opening 75, he was basically written off. But he gained more strokes on the greens than almost anyone else in the field over the final three days. His fourth-place finish earned him $1 million and a massive jump in the FedEx Cup standings.
What This Means for the Rest of the Season
Winning a Signature Event like the Arnold Palmer Invitational is a life-changer, even for a guy like Henley. He gets 700 FedEx Cup points. He moves into the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings. But more than that, he proved he can go toe-to-toe with Morikawa and Scheffler on a course that demands perfection.
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Bay Hill always exposes your weaknesses. If you can't hit a long iron into a firm green, you're done. If you can't lag putt, you're done. Henley proved he has no glaring holes in his game right now.
Next Steps for Golf Fans:
If you're following the season, keep an eye on Keegan Bradley. His Sunday 64 was a warning shot to the rest of the Tour. Also, watch the equipment reports for Scottie Scheffler; rumors are he's looking at another putter change after the struggles this week.
For those looking to improve their own game based on what we saw at Bay Hill, focus on your "scrambling from the rough." Henley won because he saved par (and made eagle) from places he shouldn't have been. That’s the difference between a top-10 and a trophy.