The Shell Houston Open is not one of the biggest events on the PGA Tour, but it has one of the most valuable prizes.
With one of the prime positions on the PGA Tour calendar, the winner of the tournament is guaranteed their place at The Masters, if they had not already qualified for the event.
Russell Henley was in that position going into the tournament. A seven-under-par final round of 65, booked his trip down Magnolia Lane on Monday afternoon.
Henley won his third PGA Tour event, but his first in just over three years to become the 94th and final player to qualify for the event, which begins on Thursday afternoon.
Third win on TOUR.
500 FedExCup points.
And an invitation to @TheMasters. pic.twitter.com/i31SL6mQMe
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 3, 2017
"It will be my fourth Masters", Henley said after the win. His previous best finish at Augusta National was a 21st place finish in 2015. He has made the cut in two of his three previous visits.
"If I was in college and I was a senior in college and you said, hey, Russ, if you could say the next five years you're going the play golf on the PGA Tour and play in four Masters, would you take that -- and you win three times, would you take that in? I would say, 'Sign me up.' I'm very thankful. It's very tough to get in the Masters and it's exciting."
As the last player to qualify, he did admit there will be some logistical issues, which may halt his Houston celebrations.
"I'll probably just go call a couple friends, talk to my parents, my brother, and talk to my wife a little bit, and just talk about the day and I might get some ice cream."
"Tomorrow if we have a place to stay in Augusta, which we usually get a house, but I don't know if there's going to be any available now, I probably like to watch a movie with my wife and hang out."
The moment @russhenleygolf notched his third PGA TOUR victory. pic.twitter.com/M7JeJOvx47
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 2, 2017
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