Coming of age
Published: 2/19/2007 10:26 AM
Last Modified: 2/19/2007 10:26 AM
During one of those lazy, hazy days of summers a few years back, something said on television that Sunday afternoon caught my attention.
I was watching the Memorial Tournament, and while I don’t recall the year, you know who was on the prowl. Yes, Tiger Woods was once again dominating Jack Nicklaus’ tournament. During the event, CBS’ Jim Nantz asked the Golden Bear if he had a choice of any player on tour that could seriously elevate their game to challenge El Tigre’.
Nicklaus’ answer was stunning. It wasn’t Phil Mickelson. It wasn’t Sergio Garcia. It wasn’t Ernie Els. Nope.
“Charles Howell,” Nicklaus said succinctly and firmly.
It may have taken a few years, but the Golden Bear’s prediction is finally starting to make tracks in 2007.
The former Oklahoma State standout already is having his breakthrough year. Two near misses in January at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Buick Invitational in San Diego added to his long list of close calls. Since winning his only PGA Tour event in 2002, Howell has nine runnerup finishes.
Finally, on Sunday, Howell closed the deal. Doing it against Mickelson to win the Nissan Open shows the strong mental makeup the 2000 NCAA champ was noted for when he turned pro seven years ago. The clutch par putts on the 18th hole in regulation and again in the three-hole playoff is one positive aspect of Howell’s turnaround.
But the area where Howell’s game could change and make Nicklaus’ pick come true is driving.
Howell can bomb it off the tee. He ranks fifth in driving distance at 303 yards. But keeping those drives in the fairways has been a problem. His accuracy percentage is just under 50 percent. CBS analyst Nick Faldo said before the playoff Sunday afternoon if Howell can improve that aspect, the sky is the limit and he can legitimately challenge the Woods’ and Mickelson’s because both of those players are notorious for spraying the ball to all areas off the tee.
Howell did struggle putting the ball in the fairway down the stretch Sunday. But for the man who goes by Charles Howell III and was unfairly dubbed “Charles Howell the 2nd” for his close calls, he finally got to experience the feeling of finishing first.
---- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
