There’s Something in the Milk Shakes: Charles Howell III Leads First Round
by Stephanie Morgan, Columbus Wired Columnist (May 29, 2003)


Charles Howell III is the definitive leader today with an outstanding 8-under-par finish that included birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.

Growing up next to Augusta National (he is a member), one would assume that Howell was meant to play golf. A next-door neighbor introduced him to the game at seven, and Howell was winning tournaments at eleven.

Naturally, Howell was asked to compare Muirfield to Augusta National. Howell had a list. “The fairways and greens are absolutely perfect. The layout of the golf course with a lot of slopes. The fairways are a little bit wider.”

At twenty-three, Howell is one of the youngest competitors The Memorial. Named PGA Rookie of the Year in 2001, Howell has already managed a very successful career path. Just last year, he surpassed four million in earnings, besting Carlos Franco’s prior record as the player with the most money won in his first two seasons on tour. The earnings record was due, in large part, to his career-high paycheck of $666,000 for winning the 2002 Michelob Championship at Kingsmill.

Howell is the current driving leader in the PGA, which could explain his outstanding performance on the course today. While some have described Muirfield as a “power hitter’s course,” Howell doesn’t really see the connection. “You know it’s strange, a lot of people do say that this is a power hitter’s course. I don’t hit many drivers out here at all…I hit two drives on the back round today. I didn’t hit one driver on the par-5 on the back nine. I hit a 3-wood on 11 and 15. So I wouldn’t say this is as much a power hitter’s golf course that it might have been in years past.”

In fact, one of Howell’s best shots of the day was a 45-foot putt on the 18th. Even more impressive is that this putt was more than double his prior putts of the day. “I really hadn’t had many putts over 15, 20 foot range. Now I had a putt from 45 feet across the green. I was focusing on speed there…I was very fortunate to get the speed right, which it was perfect enough to drop in.”

Instead, Howell is about preparation and learning from those that have come before him. First, there was the advice from Jack on how to play the course. When asked if there was anything specific he did, Howell responded, “Sure, every single hole. I can say overall I played the golf course much more conservatively.” Secondly, there was the advice from Arnold Palmer on how to prepare for the majors. Howell remembers, “he said, I promise you any golf tournament you win, will feel like a major. Which means every tournament is important. I’m trying as hard as I can wherever I go.”

Listening to Howell, one would assume that he’s played the game forever – that he’s practically staring the Senior Tour in the face with the sage wisdom that he’s gathered over the years. If his age weren’t enough to contradict this then looking at his face would. With his wiry build and boyish face, one would surely think that he was a gangly teenager patiently counting down the days until he can get his driver’s license. At 5’ 11”, Howell weighs a mere 155 pounds – soaking wet. Howell is quick to confirm that he’s the best milk shake customer at the club this week. He’s also quick to confirm that the “eight or nine” shakes he’s had in the last two days are simply because he’s “off to a slow start.”