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Howell Trying To Earn Trip Home To Augusta

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By JOE HENDERSON

jhenhderson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 22, 2009

PALM HARBOR - Charles Howell III wasn't watching when his chance at a playoff Sunday evaporated on the 18th green at the Transitions Championship. Howell, instead, was on the putting green - hoping, but not expecting, that leader Retief Goosen would miss a short par putt and create the need for bonus golf.

"That guy, you're never going to bet against him to miss that. You don't win two U.S. Opens by missing those," Howell said pleasantly as he settled for a second-place tie with Brett Quigley.

Not that finishing second is bad, but winning would have guaranteed him a spot next month in the Masters; he hasn't qualified yet, after playing in the season's first major each year since 2002. When you grow up in Augusta and make your living playing golf, that tournament is a large deal. He still has time to qualify, but not much.

For a while it looked like Sunday might be that day. Howell was tied for the lead after he rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 14, heading down the dark alley that is the final four holes of the Copperhead course at Innisbrook.

"I told my caddie the four pars would do it," he said.

He then went bogey-bogey. The chance to guarantee his spot at Augusta was gone.

"The golf tournament means more to me than anything," he said. "That may be why I haven't played as well as I would have liked to. But frankly, it's just hard to get that out of your head, that it's Augusta."

Howell was one of those guys that everyone saw as a potential challenger to Sir Tiger of Woods, but it has never quite happened for him (or anyone else). He was the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year in 2001, but it's fair to say he has fallen short of expectations since. He is working on his game now with a trainer, trying to turn his enormous ability into championships.

"I'm kind of a fastball pitcher and I'm learning to become a pitcher that throws splitters and knuckleballs, and actually become a golfer," he said.

That's an interesting use of a baseball metaphor there because Howell is, by his own description, "as big a Bucs fan as there is." He is best buddies with Ronde Barber, who pulls some strings to get him sideline passes from time to time. If those aren't available, Howell, who now lives in Orlando, will still be in Raymond James Stadium whenever possible.

"I don't know why we hit it off, but we've become good friends," Barber said. "We're actually not that similar. I guess we're just both fans of each other's sports. He's a big Bucs fan and I'm a big golf fan. He's a pretty big football geek."

For now, though, the football geek needs a break from the golfing gods.

He'll be at Bay Hill this week - along with that guy Tiger - and if it doesn't happen there, he'll have another chance at the Shell Houston Open to qualify for the tournament in his hometown. He has to win one of those two events.

"I've given it a run," he said. "I've played a lot of tournaments. I've played a lot of golf this year. But like I said, I'm going to play the next two and work my tail off to try to do it."

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