Balancing Life as a Pro Golfer

Synovus brand ambassadors Russell Henley and Teil Duncan Henley have grown their respective careers, bounced ideas off each other, and balanced it all while raising a family. Russell is currently on the PGA Tour as it heads toward the FedEX Cup Playoffs, which conclude in late August. In April he finished T4 at the Masters. Teil — successful artist, entrepreneur, author and small business owner — juggles an exacting career of her own while being Russell’s bedrock of support.

A career as a professional golfer has its unglamorous challenges — the time away from home; hours upon hours of practice; and the pressures of making a tournament cut or heading home empty-handed monetarily speaking.

In their own words, they share their thoughts on golf and how they make it work.

Teil Duncan Henley: There is an insane amount of pressure to be a pro golfer. I really can't imagine being in Russell’s shoes. He handles it so well. Each year there are dozens of new golfers coming out that are young and winning majors. So the pressure, the cameras, the interviews, the number of texts coming in on a good day — and just knowing all the hometown people who are watching — there's just immense pressure on him at every angle. But I feel like he handles it so well; I do feel like that separates him.

Some things that Russell says that really help him from my end to achieve success is really just allowing him the freedom to just go and do what he needs to do. And if that means just practice putting all day, then that sounds great. And the thing is, it's easy for me to say that because he always comes home with big, wide-open arms to welcome us and the kids after a long day of practice. On my end, I support him to do what he needs to do practice-wise.

Russell: There is a ton of pressure and learning to deal with that pressure is a big part of pro golf. You’re always working on getting your game in the right place. And you have to find new ways to do that.

I care deeply with how I play. Trying to perform and not think about the result, even though I want it so badly, is a challenge. What I’ve realized has helped me in golf is when I am a little off, I’m not afraid of trying new things and being creative in how I practice, how I play the game, and how I approach the game. That’s what Teil has done. Her art has evolved and progressed. She’s very, very creative. If she has any advice for me, because she knows me so well and she feels like I am a little off with my game or approach, I’ll always listen to her because she has a lot of experience with what she does.

On Winning and Being Successful

Russell Henley: I've won my share and then most recently I won [the World Wide Technology Championship] and … it was at the [El Camaleon Golf Course at Mayakoba] resort in Mexico, and that was my fourth PGA Tour win. They handmade [the trophy] and right when I got it, the first thing they said was that Teil is going to love this trophy. And she does. It’s a lot of cool colors, cool design and definitely the most creative trophy I've gotten. … It just reminds me of the hard work and just how blessed I am to be able to play this game as my job.

Teil: When I first met Russ, I had been working as an artist for quite a while. I feel like on the outside Russell’s job and my job are so different. The longer that we’ve been together, the more I see similarities.

The moments when he has won, they really are totally surreal. I feel like it takes a couple of months for it to slowly sink in that he won. And it comes with all these benefits and just a huge relief to keep his job, for having won a tournament.

It makes me unbelievably overjoyed just to see him win. Because I see the hours, the emotion, the preparation, the planning, the strategy, the traveling, the money and everything that goes into this job. It all pays off in the fruit of it all. And seeing him hold a trophy is just kind of an indescribable feeling.

Balancing Golf with Other Responsibilities

Russell: With three kids, there is always something you have to go and do. It's work or taking them to T-ball practice or taking my daughter to dance, trying to help deal with whatever [Teil] needs help with. When we're traveling, there are a lot of variables, and a lot of things to juggle.

I think I'm growing up. I think our kids have made me made me grow up a little bit. I have some responsibilities and take care of the house and do other things besides just golf. You know, there's a lot going on in life right now.

Teil: Something about Russ that may surprise people that don't know him is you see him on the golf course, and he looks extremely focused and serious, but he really is an actual total goofball in the house. I mean, there's nothing that would stop him from just breaking down and dancing in the middle of the kitchen. And he'll do whatever it takes to get a laugh from our kids and from me every day. So he is not scared to act like a total goofball on a regular basis.

Russell [Laughing]: She’ll say, “That’s not funny.” It’s funny.

Follow Teil on Instagram at @teilart and Russell on the PGA Tour as he makes his way through the schedule.