Who: Russell Henley, PGA TOUR rookie in 2013
When: Thursday, 1/17/13 after his first round 64 at Humana Challenge, After winning last week at the SONY Open at Waialae CC in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Why did Andy ask the question: I saw him win the WGJO on Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass last October (his 3rd Web.com win). He finished 3rd on the Money List to earn his card for 2013. I wanted to know how that win compared to his first win last week on the PGA TOUR. In the follow up question I wanted to know what his experience was on the Stadium Course, was he looking forward to the 2013 PLAYERS and did he like Ponte Vedra?
What was Russell's response (entire response below courtesy of ASAP.com): His win at TPC Sawgrass was a come-from-behind win whereas he was in the lead most of Sunday after being tied after 3 rounds with Scott Langley at the SONY. He won the 2004 SEJT event at TPC Sawgrass at age 15 by shooting a 1-under 71 on the Stadium Course and an even par 72 on Dye's Valley. He likes Ponte Vedra and enjoyed the Blue Angels air show during the week of his WDJO win.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about your win on the Dye's Valley at TPC Sawgrass in the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open compared to your win last week?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Sure. In my opinion that's the best course we played, one of the best courses we played throughout the year, in terms of how good a shape it's in, the challenge of the course, I thought that was a very difficult golf course. Long rough, fast, hard greens. So it's the kind of course I like to play.
That week I was second to last group on the last day and I think I was two shots off the lead or something like that. I shot 5-under on the front nine. I think I shot 30 on the front nine. So immediately I was back in contention and just tried to hold it together.
And I was going into 18 and I thought I was 2-down and I looked at the leader board and when I was walking up to the green and I was 1-down. And knew I had a putt to tie to at least have a chance. And I made it and went to a playoff.
So it was a little more of a come from behind victory in Jacksonville and last week I felt like I had the lead pretty much the whole day. At least I think I did. And just had to hold everybody off.
Q. There's another course there the Stadium Course and the PLAYERS Championship. Can you talk a little bit about competing in that this year and maybe anything, your thoughts about the Ponte Vedra community?
RUSSELL HENLEY: I'm excited. Both those golf courses are great. I played the Southeastern Junior Golf Event, Golf Tour event when I was 15 there. You play each one of them one time. And I love both of the courses. Obviously there's a reason there's a lot of guys down there, the practice facility is great and just the area is really nice.
There's a lot to do, close to Jacksonville Beach and Jacksonville. And when I was down there last time I had a lot of fun. Obviously my family was there and that helped a lot, but there's a lot of cool stuff to do. There was an air show and it was a blast down there. So I'm definitely looking forward to going back.
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