The 2022-23 PGA Tour season may be trending towards becoming the year of redemption after Russell Henley successfully captured his fourth career victory at the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. Following in the footsteps of Keegan Bradley and Mackenzie Hughes, Henley’s triumph at El Camaleon Golf Course broke a five-year drought from the winner’s circle and marked his first trophy raise since the 2017 Houston Open.

Finishing the week at 23 under, Henley not only shattered his winless streak but also plenty of scoring records along the way. Both the 36-hole and 54-hole records fell at Mayakoba earlier in the week, and ultimately gave way for Henley to possess the tournament scoring record as well — matching Viktor Hovland’s 23-under total in 2021.

For Henley, this week in Mexico, where his putting finally matched his exquisite iron play and accurate driving, was more than overdue. Ranking second, sixth and third in strokes gained approach the last three seasons on the PGA Tour, Henley has experienced his fair share of gut-wrenching and heartbreaking moments in the final stages of tournaments.

Earlier this year, Henley went into the weekend at the 2022 Sony Open in full control of his game. Playing the final 36 holes in 8 under, the Georgia alum was tracked down by Hideki Matsuyama through a herculean effort that featured consecutive rounds of 7-under 63. 

Falling in a playoff at Waialae Country Club just months earlier, Henley missed out on extra holes entirely at the 2021 Wyndham Championship. Commanding a three-stroke lead entering the final round, the 33-year-old carded four back-nine bogeys including one on his 72nd hole which resulted from a three putt from 25 feet away.

“I just tried to learn from my past and my screw ups,” said Henley. “That’s kind of what I took from the last two events that I played from the start of this season and just tried to learn what I am doing wrong and how can I get better with it. All those events that I didn’t close out, they hurt. You don’t know if you’ll ever get to win another one. It’s so hard out here. To come down 18 with a four-shot lead, it was just really cool. It’s still just … I don’t even know what to say.”

These moments of pain only make this moment of joy at Mayakoba that much deeper and that much more meaningful as Henley came into the event having failed to convert his last five 54-hole leads into victories.

The consistency in which Henley has been able to put himself in this position should be applauded, yet consistency is hardly rewarded in the game of golf without the accompaniment of hardware, especially on the PGA Tour. With such a strong tee-to-green, presence — similar to Bradley almost — it does make the mind wander and imagine what this win will do for Henley’s confidence and if this consistency of his can translate into even more titles.

From 2013-18, Henley was one of the best putters on the PGA Tour before completely falling off with the putter in hand. While Henley has experienced his troubles the last handful of seasons with the flat stick, his victory at the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship illustrates exactly what he is capable of when that club cooperates. 

A non-major champion — although a 54-hole leader at the 2021 U.S. Open — and a non-participant in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups for the United States, conventional wisdom and the sheer depth of the PGA Tour suggests that will not change in 2023. But don’t be surprised if come major championship season or come the time for Zach Johnson to make his captain’s selections for Rome if there isn’t a moment when Henley’s name isn’t at least brought up in conversation. Grade: A+

Here are the grades for the rest of the leaderboard at the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. 

T3. Scottie Scheffler (-18): After a quiet fall, Scheffler lit up the course at Mayakoba on Sunday with a 9-under 62 and the round of the week at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. It was what we grew accustomed to from him early in the year, and though he didn’t win, his finale made it easy to envision him bridging 2022 to 2023. Grade: A-

“I feel good, game feels good,” he said. “I hit it nicely this week outside of the few, you know, bad breaks. And a few things go my way, a few more putts go in, I could have been right in the tournament, but obviously Russell’s playing great golf right now and hopefully he just continues to cruise.”

T15. Collin Morikawa (-15): Morikawa had his best finish of the fall this week at Mayakoba, and it coincided with his work with a new putting coach. More interestingly, he popped back at analyst Trevor Immelman after Immelman suggested that Morikawa has been struggling a bit because of how difficult it is to live up to the ridiculously high standard he set for himself early in his career by winning so often (including two of his first eight majors). Morikawa’s response was … kind of odd.

“Wow, that’s hard to hear from him,” Morikawa told Golf Channel. “I couldn’t care less what he says there because I don’t think that’s my bar. I think I’ve got so much more to improve. I’ve been near last on putting. I don’t think I’ve even finished close to being average on putting. If I can just get my putting to be average, I think there’s so much more to improve. I don’t know where that came from, but that kind of stings there. I don’t like to hear that.

“I don’t know if it that was a compliment, I’ll be honest. If he did, maybe it came off wrong from what I heard. For me, I’ve never seen a ceiling. I just want to keep improving. Obviously we took a couple steps back this year. It’s just trying to get better every day and trying to improve on little things. I expect myself to play well. I set really high goals for myself. It just sucks when they don’t come through.”

This has to be a misunderstanding here because Immelman in no way was trying to offend Morikawa. He was simply saying that high bars early in one’s career are difficult to return to, which is true. Morikawa’s response was not commensurate with what Immelman’s posture toward him. Grade: B+

T10. VIktor Hovland (-16): It wasn’t the three-peat Hovland envisioned, but Hovland has now shot scores of 67-69-63-65-67-65-62-67-65-69-66-68 over the last three years at Mayakoba and lost to nine of 393 competitors in that timespan. That is, of course, preposterous. Grade: B-

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Russell Henley remains flawless at the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship, having now gone bogey-free over the first 54 holes to (once again) set an event record pace at 22 under. Good for a six-stroke lead, the Georgia Bulldog will look to keep his foot on the gas tomorrow and turn this runaway effort at Mayakoba into his fourth career victory on the PGA Tour.

Beginning the third round with a three-stroke lead, Henley was cool, calm and collected from the start as he tacked on a birdie on his opening hole to extend his overnight margin. Losing his tee shot on the following hole, the 33-year-old was able to get up and down after a penalty stroke to maintain his bogey-free streak and keep his closest pursuers at bay. 

Three additional birdies over a four-hole stretch on his front side helped Henley reach 20 under by the time he made the turn. With two more par breakers on his inward half, including one from distance on the par-3 15th, Henley has now signed for rounds of 63-63-65 around El Camaleon Golf Club and doubled his 36-hole lead heading into the final round.

First-round leader Will Gordon remains Henley’s closest competition at 16 under as the former Vanderbilt standout continues to shine in his return to the PGA Tour. Fellow SEC alums in need of a big final day to chase down Henley include Auburn’s Patton Kizzire at 16 under and fellow Georgia Bulldogs Brian Harman at 14 under and Greyson Sigg at 13 under.

The leader

1. Russell Henley (-22)

There is not much more to say when it comes to what Henley is doing. Commanding the largest 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour since Billy Horschel’s five-stroke edge at the Memorial, Henley has been on cruise control ever since the first tee shot on Thursday. 

He has bested the previous low 54-hole total on the PGA Tour this season by three strokes thanks in part to his steady driving and impressive iron play. At 22 under, he sits one off Viktor Hovland’s winning score from last year’s event — a tournament record with a high likelihood to be broken tomorrow.

Other contenders

T2. Will Gordon, Patton Kizzire (-16)

4. Seamus Power (-15)

T5. Troy Merritt, Brian Harman (-14)

T7. Viktor Hovland, Greyson Sigg, Matthias Schwab, Thomas Detry (-13)

Not many players have had a better start to the 2022-23 season than Detry as the Belgian entered the campaign without full-time status. Already locking up his card courtesy of a runner-up finish at the Bermuda Championship and two additional top-15 efforts, Detry is on the trajectory of not only becoming a mainstay on the PGA Tour, but potentially playing his way onto the European Ryder Cup Team in Rome next fall. While still ways away, the fall swing has been a revelation for the DP World Tour staple and captain Luke Donald has surely taken notice.

“I wouldn’t say more aggressive, but certainly more freely really,” said Detry of securing his PGA Tour card. “I felt no pressure at all today. I’m in contention and I was just cruising out there, I was putting well. I actually didn’t hit the ball — it wasn’t really my best ball-striking day so I’m going to do a little bit of work on the range. But I putted really well. I managed to hole some good ones for par and made some good ones for birdie as well.”

Aces are wild

As if one ace wasn’t enough, how about two more. After Brian Harman kicked the party off on Friday on the par-3 4th, both Greyson Sigg and Seamus Power joined him in the celebrations on Saturday. The Irishman who won last week at the 2022 Bermuda Championship added another hole-out just three holes later and finds his name on the first page of the leaderboard thanks to a stellar third round.

“On eight, the hole-in-one, I think it was 138, it was 6 or 8 and it was a very similar number and a very similar wind to the first round, so I knew it was going to be spot on for a club,” said Power. “I hit it to maybe four feet on Thursday, very same numbers, very same winds, so I hit the same shot and obviously landed a foot long left and spun back in.” 

Hovland’s three-peat bid likely to come up short

Looking to join Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods and Stuart Appleby as the only men since 1980 to win an event three years in a row, Hovland’s effort this week will likely come up just short. At 13 under, he has carded three straight rounds in the 60s — and 12 consecutive at El Camaleon overall — but is no match for what Henley is doing.

“It was a lot of good stuff today. Overall like I’m playing really consistent, but missing way too many putts even though I did make some putts today,” said Hovland. “Just missing way too many putts today and yesterday. At least it’s nice to feel like the ball-striking’s back to where it should be and I feel like I can take it low tomorrow.”

2022 Mayakoba updated odds and picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

• Russell Henley: 17/100
• Will Gordon: 18-1
• Seamus Power: 25-1
• Patton Kizzire: 25-1
• Brian Harman: 50-1
• Viktor Hovland: 55-1

Sometimes, it is fine to sit out the final round of a PGA Tour event, and this may be the case for Sunday. Henley should be able to seal the deal, however, at 17/100 (-588), the juice may not be worth the squeeze knowing his track record of final-round meltdowns. Hardly going out on a limb suggesting he will win, the sensible option may be to sit back, relax and simply enjoy the golf without any money tied up.

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Many of the best ball strikers in the world made their way to Mayakoba this week for the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship. At the halfway point, it is not world No. 2 Scottie Scheffler, two-time defending champion Viktor Hovland, or two-time major champion Collin Morikawa leading the way; rather, it’s 33-year-old Russell Henley.

The former Georgia Bulldog will have plenty on his mind over the coming days with his alma mater taking on the Tennessee Volunteers on the gridiron Saturday, and with him going for his first victory on the PGA Tour since 2017. Standing at 16 under — a 36-hole scoring record at this event — and three strokes clear of Sam Ryder and Will Gordon, Henley will attempt to do what what he has not been able to over the last five years — close out a golf tournament.

Henley has been close to capturing his fourth PGA Tour title on a number of occasions, but has fallen short at each turn. Just last year, he collapsed down the stretch at the 2021 Wyndham Championship. Months later, he was caught by Hideki Matsuyama at the 2022 Sony Open, where he ultimately fell in a playoff. 

With plenty of golf yet to be played, Henley will have to fight not only the competition but his inner demons around El Camaleon Golf Club. With many unknown quantities occupying the first page of the leaderboard, just slightly further behind, a couple of the pre-tournament favorites may be licking their chops as both Hovland and Morikawa stand at 8 under and eight strokes adrift.

The leader

1. Russell Henley (-16)

Russ is cooking at the moment, but that is not to say we have not seen this movie before. A prolific fast starter, it has been the final 36 holes which has tripped up Henley ever since his last victory at the 2017 Houston Open. His accurate driving and precise iron play is likely to persist, but keep an eye on the putter as it has often been the problem child of his when attempting to close out tournaments.

“I felt great the last two days,” said Henley. “Mentally felt confident and believing in what I was doing. Hit a lot of fairways and had some nice par saves today that kept my round going. Obviously very happy with where I am.”

Other contenders

T2. Sam Ryder, Will Gordon (-13)

4. Patton Kizzire (-12)

5. David Lingmerth (-11)

T6. Brian Harman, Martin Laird, Harry Higgs (-10)

T9. Maverick McNealy, Greyson Sigg, Matt Kuchar, Scott Piercy, Patrick Rodgers (-9)

Playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week, Higgs is taking full advantage of his opportunity down in Mexico. His second round of 9-under 62 was extremely timely as the former SMU Mustang entered the week having missed 16 of 20 cuts including his first three of the 2022-23 PGA Tour season. Losing his PGA Tour card last season and missing all three cuts in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, quality performances have been hard to come by. 

“I mean, all over the place,” Higgs said of his current state of mind. “Like I have had a lot of poor days and a lot of consecutive poor days, and then I’ve also had not as many as I would like, but I’ve had some days that were great where I had full control, I was making good decisions, I was kind of, as we all say, getting out of my own way.” 

Harman’s ace propels him into contention

Back-to-back rounds of 5-under 66 have Brian Harman in the thick of it at Mayakoba for the first time in his career. Playing at El Camaleon for the 10th time in his career, the 35-year-old had previously done no better than a T30 finish. Kickstarting his day with a hole-in-one on the par-3 4th, Harman will have a memory regardless of if this form continues over the weekend.

“You know, this place kind of had my number over the years, haven’t really done very good here and today was kind of one of those days, just kind of chopping around, wasn’t doing that great,” said Harman. “Just settled down, made a couple really good swings, started with that one into the wind, just hooded a 50 [degree wedge] and slung it back in there.”

2022 Mayakoba updated odds, picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

• Russell Henley: 11/10
• Will Gordon: 9-1
• Sam Ryder: 11-1
• Brian Harman: 18-1
• Viktor Hovland: 20-1
• Patton Kizzire: 22-1
• Collin Morikawa: 28-1
• Maverick McNealy: 30-1
• Matt Kuchar: 35-1
• David Lingmerth: 35-1
• Martin Laird: 45-1

After opening with an even-par 71, Morikawa shot inside the top 20 with an 8-under 64 on Friday. Coming into the week with his iron play in form, he has carried this approach play and coupled it with a few nice putts in his second round. There are numerous question marks at the top of this leaderboard and that should give way to a weekend charge from a player such as Morikawa, who will give himself plenty of birdie looks over the next couple days. It will take a momentous effort being eight strokes off the pace, but at roughly double his pre-tournament price could be worthy of an investment.

“Eight’s a lot, but eight’s still doable come this weekend,” said Morikawa of the deficit. “This golf course, the way it’s playing, you can post two really good low ones on the weekend. I’m definitely going to need that if I’m going to be in contention, but after today I’m feeling pretty good.”

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