After four-year fight, Howell takes the big step back to victory  PGATOUR.com Contributor LOS ANGELES -- He didn't give himself much of chance. But then nobody else did, either. "Especially with Phil Mickelson out there,'' said Charles Howell III. Especially the way Howell had missed time after time, finishing second instead of finishing first, getting a reputation instead of a trophy.  Things are looking up for Charles Howell III after a strong West Coast Swing. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR/WireImage)
I'd thought I'd shot my way out of it Saturday,'' said Howell of this 2007 Nissan Open, which he won on the third hole of sudden death Sunday. Thought the way he fell to three shots behind Mickelson and two behind Padraig Harrington at the end of the third round, there would be another week of disappointment. But as we know, strange things happen in golf, like balls bouncing off trees onto the green -- as happened to Mickelson -- or bogeys flying out of nowhere right after a birdie. As also happened to Mickelson. On the final regulation hole, no less. After Phil had birdied 17 to take a one-shot lead over Howell. And so at the end of a long Sunday at Riviera Country Club, a course with which Howell is enamored, even though it treated him poorly a while back, there was Charles Howell breaking a four-and-a half-year winless streak. And there was Mickelson, one of the world's best, befuddled by his own failure. "I had the tournament in control,'' Mickelson conceded. "There were a lot of opportunities I let slide.'' Sometimes it works out that way. Sometimes when you keep fighting, as did Howell, keep ignoring the critics who mock all those second-place finishes, 10, including two this year, you break through. And as Howell, after the third extra hole of a sudden-death playoff, you are so taken by the moment that all you can say is, "I'm speechless.'' Mickelson wasn't. "Charles Howell is starting to play where we all know his potential is,'' Phil said magnanimously. Howell was an NCAA champion, a winner his second year on the PGA TOUR. So much promise. Then so much struggle. The struggle is at an end. Howell and Mickelslon had tied with 72-hole scores of 16-under par 268, Mickelson after bogeying the final hole, which surprised Howell probably as much as did Mickelson, who seemingly had earned his second win in two weeks. Both parred the first extra hole, the 18th. Both parred the second extra hole, the captivating little 315-yard 10th, where four years ago Mike Weir birdied to beat Howell in a playoff. Both didn't par the third extra hole, the par-3 14th, though. But Howell parred it. "It's been a long time,'' reminded the 27-year-old Howell. He had won the 2002 Michelob Championship. But nothing since. "Not even a game of H-O-R-S-E,'' he said about shooting baskets. "I'm no good at PlayStation. I haven't won at anything. This one is defnititely a relief. '' Four and a half years of being what the British call "a nearly man.'' "I hung in there well,'' Howell said of his attitude. "I got so many people to thank, even (teacher) Dave Leadbetter. We split apart last year. But after I missed the cut at The INTERNATIONAL, at the Denver Airport, I called him in England. I got his voicemail.'' Moments later, Leadbetter, with whom Howell had worked since Charles was 14, phoned back. Days later, the work started. Shortly, the game improved. Second place? "A year ago I would have cut off my arm for a second,'' said Howell. "But I knew this year I was getting closer. I've been driving so much better, even kept the same putter.'' When on the 14th green, the third playoff hole, he was about to draw that putter back to hit the 3-footer that would win, Howell said, "I don't even know what went through my mind. I wasn't thinking. I just said a little prayer before I hit the putt.'' Four years ago, Howell should have won the Nissan Open, but he slipped into a tie with Mike Weir, who birdied that 10th, leaving Howell stunned and understandably distraught. This playoff, he just wanted to get past the 10th. He almost didn't, driving into trees on the left and hitting a small tree with his second shot. But a brilliant chip saved par. "I've always said Riviera is my favorite golf course, other than Augusta,'' Howell pointed out. Augusta is the Masters, where Howell now is assured of returning. Augusta is also Howell's home town. "When I got in the playoff,'' Howell said. "I told my caddie, Jimmy (Johnson), 'Maybe this will get us into the Masters.' He said, 'Don't worry about that. Worry about this.' '' No worries any longer. Charles Howell III is once more a winner. Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
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