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Agence France-Presse

Russell Henley powered to victory in the US PGA Tour Houston Open on Sunday to secure the last invitation to the Masters.
Henley lit up the Golf Club of Houston course, firing 10 birdies in a seven-under-par 65.
His 20-under-par total of 268 tied the 72-hole scoring record established by Phil Mickelson in 2011 and gave Henley a three-shot triumph over overnight leader Kang Sung-hoon of South Korea, who had two birdies and two bogeys in his even-par 72 for 271.
“It hasn’t quite hit me yet that I’ve earned a spot to the Masters,” said Henley, who started the week ranked 117th in the world.
Watch: Russell Henley secures an unlikely win in Houston


Americans Luke List and Rickie Fowler shared third on 272, List carding a final-round 68 as Fowler signed for a two-under 70.
Henley began the day four shots off Kang’s lead. He birdied five of his first eight holes and by the time he was done his double-bogey from a bunker at the par-three ninth was barely a blip in his round.
“I tried to go into it with the mentality that I could do it and win it,” Henley said afterwards. “And I started to believe it.”
He had already pulled into a tie for the lead when he strung together three birdies in a row at the 13th, 14th and 15th. He tapped in to take the lead at 13 after lagging his first putt from 98 feet. He drained a 36-footer at the par-three 14th and tapped in again at 15.
Kang Sung-hoon three in front at Houston Open after Rickie Fowler’s putting lets him down
Henley added one more birdie before a finishing bogey that made no difference as Kang was unable to find a birdie on the back nine.
“Russell just played it great,” Kang said. “He putted really well, made almost everything. He’s been putting really well since yesterday and last few days, and then I haven’t been putting really well, not like the first two rounds. That was the big key, I think, the putting.”
Rickie Fowler masters ‘mud balls’ on his way to early lead at the Houston Open
The third victory of Henley’s career, and his first since 2014, earned him the final invitation to the Masters, the first major of the year that tees off on Thursday at Augusta National.
Fowler, whose third-round charge was derailed by a bogey, double-bogey finish on Saturday, fell out of contention with a double bogey and a bogey in his first four holes.
He had five birdies, including three on the back nine, but by that time Henley was out of reach.
Argentine veteran Angel Cabrera was never in contention, but he delivered the spectacle of the day with his hole in one on the 226-yard ninth hole, his last of the day.


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Rory McIlroy wins dramatic Masters play-off to complete the career grand slam

The Masters

Russell Henley rolls to Houston Open win and secures last available Masters berth

American Russell Henley claimed the Houston Open and with it a ticket at the Masters next week. Photo: AFP

HUMBLE, TX - APRIL 02: (L-R) Russell Henley and Sung Kang of South Korea shake hands after Henley's victory in the Shell Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston on April 2, 2017 in Humble, Texas. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

HUMBLE, TX - APRIL 02: (L-R) Russell Henley and Rickie Fowler talk on the 18th green during the final round of the Shell Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston on April 2, 2017 in Humble, Texas. Josh Hedges/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Russell Henley hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Houston Open golf tournament, Sunday, April 2, 2017, in Humble, Texas. Henley won the tournament over Sung Kang. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Sport

Golf

American powers to victory in Texas to secure the last invitation to the Masters


Russell Henley rolls to Houston Open win and secures last available Masters berth

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}American powers to victory in Texas to secure the last invitation to the Masters

American powers to victory in Texas to secure the last invitation to the Masters