9 hours ago
Russell Henley suffers for honesty at Travelers with Ryder Cup consolation prize left after title miss
Henley called a penalty against himself when his ball moved a fraction in the rough before he played a shot
Honest Russell Henley suffered for his classy act of sportsmanship as he came up just short at the Travelers.
But the American star admits it was worth it to see United States skipper Keegan Bradley surge towards the title and a place in the Ryder Cup team.
Henley displayed classy honesty during his second round at TPC River Highlands when he called a penalty against himself when his ball moved a fraction in the rough before he played a shot.
It was not seen by anyone else or TV cameras, but he still did the right thing and, in the end, that crucial one-shot deduction cost him a place in a play-off with Bradley.
Ironically, as Bradley is now being pushed to play for the United States, he could also knock Henley, who is seventh in the US Points List, out of the automatic qualifying spots come final reckoning.
But he's almost sure of a pick either way and he had had nothing but good things to say about his potential skipper and wants him as a player as he said: 'I mean, I hope so.
"He's just won, he's been playing great. I think he would be a great team-mate. He just plays with so much passion.
"He wants it, he wants to compete, he wants to win. He just, it just means so much to him. That was a really, really cool moment on the 18th. I definitely feel for Tommy [Fleetwood] and I've been in that situation before and it stings, so it's the nature of sport.'
Henley's admiration for Bradley is reciprocated by the captain as he sees the prospect of a top-notch individual on his roster.
Victory at the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill rocketed Henley up the Ryder Cup standings and cemented his chances of facing Europe in New York.
Henley also formed a formidable partnership with Scottie Scheffler at the Presidents Cup last year when he and the World No.1 to secure points as Jim Furyk's men got the better of the International team at Royal Montreal.
Henley looks a strong bet to be at Bethpage and that Bradley says he didn't need to watch him down the Travelers stretch as they played together in the final round to judge his minerals with a last-hole chip-in proving his again showing his class and character.
He said: 'Russell's way up high on the points, won Bay Hill this year, consistently contends in the majors, finished in the top five at US Open, world-class player.
"I wouldn't want to play [against] him come Ryder Cup time. The chip on 18, like he's just nasty and I love it because he's like the nicest guy ever, but he's an amazing competitor. If it was a younger player maybe, but not a guy like Russell.'
