Russell Henley Wins at Colonial with a late Sunday Charge

By Jack G On Today Tour

Henley schwab

PGA TOUR

Finishing the week birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie, Titleist Brand Ambassador Russell Henley closed out his ball-striking clinic at Colonial with a back-nine 31 and a late Sunday charge to capture his sixth PGA TOUR victory and move to No. 5 in the OWGR. 

  • Playing a Pro V1x golf ball and full bag of Titleist equipment, Henley led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (+9.864), Driving Accuracy (81%), Greens in Regulation (79%) and Proximity to Hole (average of 26 feet, 6 inches) on his way to rounds of 66, 66, 69, 67. 
  • Three back with three holes to play on Sunday, Henley birdied all of them to force the playoff with fellow Pro V1x player Eric Cole at 12 under par, rolling in putts of 15 feet, 3 inches (No. 16), 15 feet, 1 inch (No. 17) and 16 feet, 8 inches (No. 18) with his trusted Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.
  • On the playoff hole, Henley split the fairway on Colonial’s par-4 18th then stuck his Pro V1x to 4 feet, 10 inches and rolled in the putt for the victory.
  • Titleist was also the overwhelming #1 ball (73%) and most played driver (45%), iron (38%), wedge (52%) and putter (28%) this week at Colonial. 

10 YEARS LATER: HENLEY ON HIS MOVE TO A TITLEIST GOLF BALL 

Pro V1x

Russell Henley’s victory Sunday with Pro V1x made it seven wins over the last seven weeks for Titleist golf ball players on the PGA TOUR, following victories by Matt Fitzpatrick (Pro V1x), Alex Fitzpatrick (Pro V1x), Cameron Young (Pro V1x Double Dot), Kristoffer Reitan (Pro V1), Aaron Rai (Pro V1) and Wyndham Clark (Pro V1x). 

After starting his PGA TOUR career playing a competitive brand, Henley made the move to a Titleist golf ball toward the end of the 2016 season. 

After Sunday’s win, he moved to No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking. 

“The minute that I changed to Titleist in 2016, the first thing I realized was how good my practice became. They sent me a bag of Pro V1x golf balls to play with and to practice with, and immediately, I just remember with the wedge play, I was hitting 60-, 70-, 80-yard shots on the TrackMan with the same spin numbers and just spinning it like crazy. And I would put them in these little small areas, I could throw a towel over. And the confidence I got from my practice was just immediate for me. And the feel of the golf ball was just tremendously better. So I feel like that’s where I’ve gotten a lot more confidence. When I go home and I’m practicing with this stuff, I’m able to see exactly what’s going to happen. When I hit a wedge shot on Sunday... I know I’ve practiced that shot. I know what it’s going to do, and my confidence has just gotten more and more since then.” 

This week in Fort Worth, Henley was one of 96 players teeing up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball, 73% of the field and more than eight times the nearest competitor (11). 

HENLEY ON WHY HE PLAYS PRO V1x

Henley golf ball mark

– “I’m looking for spin. Ninety percent of the time I see just a medium-low kind of shot, and I don't spin the ball a ton. So the Pro V1x has given me the ability to feel like I'm consistently spinning the ball a lot. And so for me, I'm trying to hit one shot as much as I possibly can, get really good at that one. And then if the lie gives me an opportunity, be able to throw it up in the air or do something different with it. But medium-low with a lot of spin, that’s what the Pro V1x gives me.”   

– “I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, for seven years right after college, and it's always windy there. And so wedge play for me was always about control and spin and taking spin off, but then also downwind, being able to really spin it. So the Pro V1x has just really given me the ability to do both. And so that’s what I’m looking to do. Be able to hit it hard and spin it a ton and then take a bunch off.”  

– “Definitely the V feels softer and the X is clickier, but I think the more I just have practiced with the X, the more I just prefer the way it feels. And sometimes I think feel is good, but when I'm looking out and I see the ball have the proper spin, that means more to me than the way it feels. Some guys might be a little more sensitive to it. I’m a little less sensitive to it.” 

HENLEY NOTCHES ANOTHER WIN ON TOUR FOR TITLEIST DRIVER PLAYERS; GTS MOMENTUM CONTINUES IN TEXAS 

The most accurate driver on the PGA TOUR kept it going this week at Colonial Country Club, as Russell Henley hit a field-best 80% fairways in regulation with his Titleist driver — including his final two on the 18th hole to set up back-to-back birdies, force extra holes and seal his sixth win on TOUR. 

Henley gained over three shots on the field off the tee for the week (+3.098) with his TSi3 driver, ranking 10th. So far in 2026, the Georgia native ranks first on TOUR in driving accuracy, hitting the fairway at a 71.77% clip. 

His victory is the eighth PGA TOUR win by a Titleist driver player since March 8. 

TSi3 10.0 driver | D•1 SureFit hosel, Neutral SureFit CG | HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX 

Overall, there were 59 Titleist drivers in play at the Charles Schwab, totaling 45% of all drivers and 26 more than the nearest brand (33, 25%). Forty-three of the 59 Titleist drivers were NEW GTS2, GTS3 or GTS4 models. 

Titleist was also the most played driver this week on worldwide tours like the LPGA (29%), DP World Tour (41%), Korn Ferry Tour (36%) and JGTO (32%). In Carlsbad, California this past week, 41% of the field at the NCAA D1 Men’s Championship and 40% of the field at the NCAA D1 Women’s Championship had a Titleist driver in the bag. 

HENLEY DIALS IN NEW GTS3 7-WOOD BEFORE WIN 

The newest addition to Russell Henley’s bag is his NEW 21-degree GTS3 fairway, which he first put in play at the PGA Championship to replace his 21-degree hybrid. This week, Henley worked with JJ Van Wezenbeeck, Titleist’s Senior Director of Club Promotion, to further dial in his 7-wood setup. The finished product was a half-inch shorter build and an adjustment in SureFit hosel from B•1 (standard loft, 1 degree flat) to C•4 (+1 degree of loft, 1 degree flat), which produced Henley’s desired high ball flight and 235-yard carry number. 

NEW GTS3 21.0 fairway | C•4 SureFit hosel | Denali Black 80 TX 

It’s the second PGA TOUR win for NEW GTS3 7-woods, with Cameron Young capturing the Cadillac Championship earlier this month with his 21-degree GTS3 in the bag. The GTS3 7-wood occupies a brand-new position in Titleist’s metalwood lineup, as prior generation ‘3’ fairway models were not available in lofts higher than 18 degrees. 

HENLEY GAINS ON APPROACH PLAY WITH BLENDED T-SERIES SETUP 

Russell Henley put on a clinic with his ball-striking around Colonial, leading the field in greens in regulation (79%) and Proximity (26.6’ average). He gained over eight shots on the field with his approach play alone (+8.253, 2nd).  

Henley is among the approximately 80% of Titleist Brand Ambassadors who game a blended set of multiple iron models in the bag, demonstrating the importance of custom fitting and optimizing performance from the top of the set to the bottom. His gamer set consists of his T250 4-iron and T100 5–9 irons, and he leverages progressively lighter shafts in his 4–6 irons (True Temper AMT Tour White X100) compared to those in his 7–9 irons (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100). 

This week at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Titleist was the most played iron with 50 sets in play (38%), double the next closest brand with 25. 

HENLEY WINS WITH VOKEY SM11 WEDGES 

Henley Wedges

Russell Henley was sharp with his NEW Vokey SM11 wedges when it mattered most, sticking back-to-back approaches tight on the 18th hole for birdies to end regulation and in extra holes. 

For his wedge setup, Henley primarily uses his pitching and gap wedges as distance clubs for approach shots. For greenside shots, he relies on his S Grind sand wedge and his T Grind lob wedge.   

"His 48.10F (@ 47) and 50.08F (@ 51) are his distance wedges and he has always liked the feel of speed through the turf, which is why he has chosen to play the lower bounce F Grind in the 50-degree,” said Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill. “These are manipulated very little, so their sole job is to hit a distance number while managing trajectory and spin.” 

Henley’s 54.10S (@ 55) has been in the bag since day one of working with the Vokey team, but he has experimented with his lob wedge in the past. Originally, Henley was gaming a 58-degree M Grind, but after testing grinds about a year ago with Dill, he found T Grind was a better fit for his short game needs.  

“The most important thing for Russell with his 60 is knowing he has the most versatility when greenside. It was this time last year when he first tested the 60.04T and added it to the bag. Right away Russell mentioned confidence when he opened the face, and he loved the way the wedge felt gliding through sand.”  

This week at Colonial, there were 202 Vokey Design gap, sand and lob wedges in play (52%).  

HENLEY MAKES BIG JUMP WITH SCOTTY CAMERON PHANTOM PUTTER 

Henley Phantom Putter

Russell Henley made over 106 feet of putts on Sunday with his Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5 putter, including the 51 feet, 10 inches of putts that resulted in four consecutive birdies to close out the tournament.  

Henley first made the move to his Phantom X 5 in late 2023 at the season-ending RSM Classic, after he began working with putting instructor Phil Kenyon. He was previously in a Newport-style model. 

“I got fitted with my coach Phil Kenyon and he was all about this putter for me. Just based on the feel and the forgiveness, combining those two, that was kind of a no-brainer where we landed. Because, the greens, if they get really fast or if they're a little on the slower side, because they can't cut them because of wind or whatever it is, you want to have a putter that can perform in all those aspects. So I feel like that's kind of the big thing is, can I bring this putter to any situation?” 

Henley finished the 2022-23 season ranked 120th in Strokes Gained: Putting and losing strokes (-0.121). After moving to the Phantom, he ended the 2024 season at 39th and gaining strokes (+0.304). He currently sits 39th this season (+0.300).  

Said Kenyon: “The putter he was using was a lower-MOI model and we switched to the Phantom 5, which is face balanced, higher MOI. And I feel that's actually really helped him with his face control and face awareness. When I first worked with him, he had a lot of face rotation, which he wasn't able to control and his bad putt was a pull if anything. And alongside some technical changes, that putter has helped him in terms of not just the stability of that rotation, but the accuracy. His face awareness, face rotation has improved a lot. That's helped him start more putts on line and he's definitely putting better.”

This week, Henley gained +2.412 strokes putting on the field while averaging 1.67 putts per GIR. 

He was one of 37 players who gamed a Scotty Cameron putter this week at Colonial, more than any other brand. 

Henley Putter

LPGA 

Gaming her Pro V1x golf ball, Celine Boutier made six final-round birdies to charge up the leaderboard and earn her seventh career LPGA victory. 

  • Boutier, who started the round four shots back of the lead, closed in 5-under 66 in windy conditions, tying the low round of the day on Sunday in New Jersey. She finished one stroke clear of the chasing pack.
  • With the win, her second at the ShopRite LPGA, the 32-year-old Frenchwoman climbs to No. 9 in the CME Rankings. 

BOUTIER ON WHY SHE PLAYS PRO V1x

  • “Always been playing Pro V1x. I think it gives me a lot of feel, also a lot of distance and I'm also able to get a little bit more spin on my approach shots, which is a little bit easier for me to stop on the green.”
  • “For me, I think it's a lot about distance control, and especially on the approach shots and wedge shots, you definitely want the right feedback and you want the ball to perform as consistently as possible to be able to control the distance. You're going to want to produce a swing with a certain feel and certain speed for a certain distance and you've got to trust that the ball is going to react and perform the right way.” 

LPGA CHAMP WINS WITH PHANTOM PUTTER 

The winner of the ShopRite LPGA earned a come-from-behind victory while trusting her Scotty Cameron Phantom 9 putter. She moved to her gamer from a competitive model in October of 2024, and it hasn’t left the bag since. 

On Sunday, the champion came up clutch on the greens, needing only 26 putts to take home the trophy — including a lengthy birdie putt on the 14th hole to take the solo lead at 9 under. 

TITLEIST IS OVERWHELMING #1 BALL & MOST PLAYED DRIVER, IRON, WEDGE AND PUTTER IN NEW JERSEY 

This week at the ShopRite LPGA, Titleist was the overwhelming #1 ball, with 110 players (76%) teeing up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x model — more than eight times the nearest competitor (13). 

Titleist was also the most played driver (29%), iron (25%), wedge (41%) and putter (33%) for the week in New Jersey. 

It marked the first full-field LPGA event since 2004 in which Titleist topped the driver count, highlighting the continued momentum of Titleist driver performance and technology across the worldwide professional tours and every level of competitive golf. 

NCAA (Women) 

The individual winner at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship brought home the title while gaming an all-Titleist setup that included her Pro V1 golf ball, NEW GTS2 driver and fairways, T250 irons, NEW Vokey SM11 wedges and Scotty Cameron Phantom putter.  

  • The champion, who entered the week ranked No. 4 in the WAGR, birdied each of the final two holes at Omni La Costa to reach 12 under for the week and win by two. 
  • With the victory, she earned an exemption into this coming week’s U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club.
  • Stanford captured the program’s third national championship in the last five years. Two players on the winning side were gaming Pro V1 golf balls and a full set of 14 Titleist clubs. 
WITB | NCAA Division I Women’s Individual Champion: Titleist Pro V1 golf ball; NEW GTS2 9.0 driver; NEW GTS2 16.5 and 21.0 fairways; T250 5–P irons; NEW Vokey Design SM11 48.10F, 54.12D, 58.08M, WedgeWorks 62M wedges; Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2R tour prototype putter 

NCAA (Men)

Following the conclusion of the Women’s championship, the 2026 NCAA D1 Men’s Championship started this week with 134 competitors (84%) beginning their pursuit of a national championship title by trusting a Titleist golf ball — more than 16 times the nearest competitor (8). 
  • Titleist was the most played driver, with 64 players at Omni La Costa gaming a Titleist (41%). Titleist was also the most played fairway (31%).
  • Titleist irons were the field’s top choice, with 64 players (41%) teeing off in Carlsbad with Titleist iron sets in the bag. Titleist utilities also led the way, with a total of 49 (57%) in play.
  • Vokey Design was the most played wedge, with 211 gap, sand and lob wedges in players’ bags (45%). 

DP WORLD TOUR 

Kota Kaneko closed in 3-under 67 to win by two and clinch his first career DP World Tour title. His final-nine 31 was highlighted by a chip-in birdie on the par-3 16th hole.  
  • The 23-year-old gained +6.28 shots tee to green, including +2.32 on approach shots with 72% Greens in Regulation. 
  • Over his rounds of 65, 65, 65, 67, Kaneko totaled 23 birdies (T1) with only five bogeys.
  • Kaneko was one of 116 players (74%) this week in Austria who teed up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x model, six times the nearest competitor with 19 (12%).
  • The top three finishers, and eight of the top 10, played a Titleist golf ball. 

DPWT CHAMP WINS WITH FULL SET OF VOKEY SM11 WEDGES 

The winner of the Austrian Alpine Open gamed a full set of Vokey Design wedges: NEW SM11 46.10F, 52.08F, 56.08M and 60.04T. He finished 4th in Scrambling, getting up and down on 18 of 21 attempts. 

LIV GOLF 

Joaquin Niemann closed in 3-under 67 before sticking his wedge approach to 3 feet for birdie on the first playoff hole to capture his eighth LIV Golf title. 

  • On Sunday, Niemann went out in 4-under 31 and was steady down the stretch,  closing with seven straight pars to force extra holes. 
  • Leading a 1-2-3-4-5 finish for Titleist golf ball players in Korea, Niemann was dialed in all week long with his Pro V1x, hitting more than 76% Greens in Regulation (55/72) to help set up 20 birdies over four sub-70 rounds (66, 69, 66, 67).  

KORN FERRY TOUR 

Alvaro Ortiz birdied Nos. 17 and 18 on Sunday to force a playoff before securing his first career Korn Ferry Tour victory with another birdie on the first extra hole. 
  • In the playoff, Ortiz stuck his final approach from 179 yards to 6 feet and rolled in his Pro V1 for the win.
  • Highlighted by a front-nine 28 on Friday that featured seven birdies, Ortiz posted rounds of 67, 62, 69, 72 with a total of 18 birdies and two eagles – including an ace on the par-3 6th hole on Saturday
  • Ortiz was dialed with his Pro V1 golf ball, gaining +7.740 strokes from tee to green with more than seven of them on approach (+3.084) and around the green (+4.075).
  • Titleist was the overwhelming #1 ball this week at Raleigh Country Club with 123 (79%) players teeing up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x model, seven times the nearest competitor (16 players). 
  • Titleist was also the most played driver (36%), iron (36%), wedge (58%) and putter (33%). 

KFT CHAMP WINS WITH FULL SET OF VOKEY SM11 WEDGES 

The winner of the UNC Health Championship gamed a full set of Vokey Design wedges: NEW SM11 50.12F, 54.10S and 58.04T. He gained more than four shots on the field around the green (+4.075/7th) and finished 4th in Scrambling, getting up and down on 18 of 21 attempts. 

JGTO 

Shaun Norris went low to win his ninth career JGTO title by five shots and punch his ticket to the 154th Open Championship.

  • Norris, who moved to his Pro V1x Yellow golf ball last month (from Pro V1x), carded rounds of 63, 69, 67, 65 and went bogey-free over the weekend. On Sunday, he came home in 5-under 31 to separate from the field.
  • Norris' 24-under total broke the tournament scoring record by four shots.
  • Titleist Brand Ambassador Ren Yonezawa finished T2, also earned a spot in the field at Royal Birkdale. 

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR 

Titleist Brand Ambassador Helen Briem left no doubt on Sunday in France, winning her second LET title by seven shots, the largest margin of victory on the LET this season.
  • Gaming her all-Titleist setup, Briem carded rounds of 69, 65, 67 to post 12 under for the week. She was the only player to post all three rounds in the 60s and eclipse double digits under par.
  • Her Saturday 65, which tied for the low round of the week, saw her gain +8.08 shots on the field, with +3.46 coming from her approach play and +2.43 on the greens. 
  • With the win, the 20-year-old earns an exemption into the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship later this summer. 

WITB: Titleist Pro V1 golf ball; GT2 9.0 driver; GT2 15.0 fairway; TSR3 19.0 hybrid; T100 4–9 irons; NEW Vokey Design SM11 46.10F, 50.12F, 54.12D, WedgeWorks 58K* wedges; Scotty Cameron Phantom 5.5 tour prototype putter 

KLPGA

Minji Park fired a bogey-free, 8-under 64 Sunday to capture her 20th career KLPGA Tour victory.  =

  • The 28-year-old Korean birded five of her final nine holes of competition to clinch the one-shot win. She began the final round five shots out of the lead.
  • Gaming her Pro V1 golf ball, Park gained nearly five strokes on approach (+4.86, 8th), while hitting 78% Greens in Regulation, to help set up 15 birdies. 

KLPGA CHAMP WINS WITH VOKEY SM11 WEDGES 

The winner of the Suhyup Bank MBN Ladies Open took a full set of Vokey Design wedges to the winner’s circle: NEW SM11 50.12F, 54.12D, and 58.08M. She scrambled at a 75% clip, getting up and down on 9 of 12 attempts.