PGA Results: 2013 Sony Open

PGA Tour Sony Open Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii PGA Tour rookies are supposed to be nervous, right?  Rookies are supposed to struggle just to make the cut, right?  Apparently nobody told that to Russell Henley. This past week's contest was held at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The Sony Open is the first full event of the PGA Tour season (this year) and the first opportunity for all of the new rookies to get started on the goal of keeping their tour cards for next year.  Russell Henley will not have to worry about keeping his card, and he's punched a ticket to not only the Hyundai Tournament of Champions next year, but a ticket to the Masters as well.  Not bad for his first start, EVER. Henley started his Tour career with a fine 63 for his first round.  One might have thought that this round was a one in a million, lightning in a bottle round.  To prove that theory incorrect, Henley followed up round one with another 63 in round two.  One in a million twice, and counting.  Henley faltered slightly in round three, ahem.  He "only" fired a 67. For the final round what would he do?  This rookie surely would succumb to the pressure and shoot himself out of the tournament.  Right.  Can you say "one in a million, three times out of four?"  Yes, setting scoring records at the tournament, carded his first PGA Tour win with a 3rd round of 63.  Amazing. Keys to Victory A quick look at Henry's stats tells the story:

• Greens in regulation: 83.33%
• Putting average: 1.533

In other words, hit nearly all your greens and only average 27 putts per round, or 1.5 per hole.  Those two stats will get it done, every day, every week.