Augusta native Howell trying to earn coveted Masters invite

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Charles Howell's best Masters finish came in 2004 when he tied for 13th.

When you grow up a few drivers and an 8-iron from Augusta National and you become a professional golfer, the Masters has an allure like no other tournament.

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For better or worse.

That explains why Charles Howell III -- just like any other golf fan -- was glued to his television last April watching Kenny Perry come so close to become the oldest winner of a great jacket. Fact is, Howell had spent most of the last four days in front of his TV at his Orlando-area home.

"It's probably the only golf tournament I'll watch start to finish on television," Howell said.

All the time, Howell kept thinking a twist on the old post-card line: Wish I was there.

Still does, in fact.

Howell has had Augusta On His Mind ever since he failed to qualify for Augusta National last year -- the first time since he made his first appearance at his hometown major in 2002. So for two years, he has been in quest of one of the most valuable pieces of mail a pro golfer can receive -- an invitation from Augusta National.

"It was really on my mind in the offseason," Howell said. "Last year, watching it on TV was just not fun. I think it's hard for everybody to miss it, but growing up there, even more so."

Howell will no doubt be thinking about the Masters as he prepares for this week's Transitions Championship at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Fla. A year ago, Howell had a golden opportunity to qualify for the Masters, when he had the lead at Innisbrook with four holes to play.

But he bogeyed two of the last four holes, eventually finishing a shot behind winner Retief Goosen. For Howell, the invitation would have to wait for at least another year.

With just three more tournaments left to play before next month's Masters, Howell, who is ranked 94th in the latest Official World Golf Ranking, knows he probably has to win to make it to Augusta National. That's not out of the realm of possibility, considering Howell's form of late.

Howell has finished no worse than 26th in six of his seven starts this year (he missed the cut at Riviera, where he won his second PGA TOUR title three years ago). Howell has a pair of top-five finishes and is 21st in the FedExCup standings.

"My game is good," Howell said. "I can't complain about the start to the year, apart from the fact that I haven't gotten into the Masters. There's just one more nugget out there I'm chasing."

Because Howell had such quick success on the PGA TOUR -- he's one of the few who skipped q-school because he played so well on his sponsor exemptions -- Howell now has a greater appreciation of the fine line between being among the game's elite and the rank-and-file.

Once you move into the top 50 in the world rankings, the system helps keep you there because it gets you into majors and the World Golf Championships, where more world ranking points are available. (Even the first-round losers in last month's WGC-Accenture Match Play, for instance, received 2 world ranking points just by their T33 finish.)

But once you fall out of the top 50, it's more difficult to get back in. You're playing in events with less world ranking points, so you have to finish even higher to improve your ranking.

"It's almost a self-perpetuating cycle if you can play your way into those events," Howell said. "You still have to be playing well, obviously. But it is a lot nicer to be in those events. If you can figure out the world ranking system, you're a smarter man than I. But the world ranking system is what it is. I just have to play better, that's all."

Howell has played better of late. Just not good enough

Despite watching almost all of last year's Masters telecast, Howell said he didn't learn much from the TV coverage. Other than how badly he wants to be there.

"It's hard to learn things watching it on TV because it's just not the same," Howell said. "I remember the first time I played there, I was amazed how different it played as opposed to watching it for all those years. It's hard to learn stuff watching it .You just have to be out there playing it."

Howell has three more swings to get another at-bat at the Masters. He will swing for the fences, hoping he again doesn't need a remote to watch this year's first major.

Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.