There's a long line of bright young stars on the PGA TOUR, from Dustin Johnson to Rickie Fowler to Louis Oosthuizen. Each one made an indelible mark on professional golf a year ago, whether it was by winning (or losing) a major championship, making the Ryder Cup team or earning some sort of honor. Each is a young face that will likely be around for years.
With the emergence of all these young stars, the still-youthful Charles Howell III has somehow been forgotten by golf fans who are stricken with the bright new faces.
But to overlook Howell would be a mistake.
While Howell has not emerged to become the "next Tiger Woods" as some predicted when he left Oklahoma State, he's had a productive, fruitful career. Now, at age 31, he continues to make cuts, earn money and join the contenders on a regular basis. All that's lacking is a few more victories.
"Obviously I want to win a golf tournament more than anything," Howell said last spring during the Verizon Heritage.
He may get started in that direction this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, a tournament in which he's threatened to win more than once. If there's one place on the TOUR schedule that Howell feels at home, it's in Honolulu -- perhaps even more so than that famed course in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.
There's something about the Waialae Country Club that gives Howell the ability to relax and contend. He tied for fourth at the Sony Open in 2002 and tied for third there in 2005. He was second in 2007, losing to Paul Goydos by one stroke, and fourth in 2009, shooting in the 60s for all four rounds. He tied for fifth there in 2010, despite opening with a 73.
That's five top-fives over nine events. No wonder Howell ranks fifth on the tournament's list of all-time money winners. The Sony Open is his personal overstuffed recliner.
One reason Howell feels so comfortable at the Sony Open is that he's able to fully use his ability to drive the ball. Howell has always been long off the tee and his ability to mash it works well at Waialae. It's a course that encourages players to come out of their shoes on the tee -- last year 79 percent of the competitors opted to go for the green in two on the layout's two par-5s. That sets up perfectly for Howell, who can use his aggressive nature to attack the greens.
Waialae also has the toughest fairways to hit on TOUR. Only 47.7 percent of tee shots landed in the short grass, something that can definitely tilt the odds in a player's favor. This is an area in which Howell can improve -- he ranked only 181st in that category last season. But somehow it hasn't been an issue in the past at the Sony Open.
A casual observer might believe that Howell's 2010 season was a step back from 2009. He didn't make as much money (falling 14 spots from the previous season to No. 60) and finishing 75th in the FedExCup standings. But the equation needs to include the fact that Howell and his wife, Heather, had their first child last season. Howell didn't play for a month -- from THE PLAYERS Championship to the St. Jude Classic presented by Smith & Nephew-- while awaiting the arrival of Ansley Grace. And anyone with children can attest to the need for a transition period before and after a baby is born.
By the time the Fall Series rolled around, things were more settled at the Howell home. He responded with some of his most consistent play of the season, finishing inside the top 25 in each of the four events with a tie for sixth at the McGladrey Classic and tie for ninth at the Children's Miracle Network Classic.
Will those performances carry over? They did in 2007 when he opened the season with a bang and beat Phil Mickelson in a playoff to win the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club. In one of his last events of 2006, Howell tied for ninth at Disney. He went on to make the Presidents Cup team in 2007 and earn a career-best $2.8 million.
If Howell is poised for another spectacular season, don't be surprised if it starts in Hawaii. It's not a Green Jacket, but Howell would look good wearing a flowered shirt with a lei around his neck.
Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.
Jan. 12, 2011
By Stan Awtrey, PGATOUR.COM Contributor
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