Vincent Publishing - Index

Vincent Publishing - 2008 Northern Trust Open - Index

After experiencing the playoff system for the first time,
Howell says not to change a thing.
“I’d leave it alone for one more year. I don’t think you can
make an overall judgment on it after just one year,” he said.
“The one thing I do like about it is that it mirrors the money list
pretty closely. Frankly, I think that’s important. If a guy plays
well throughout the year and is way high up on the money
list, he should have a chance of winning the FedExCup. Our
season is so long and in golf, every shot counts and I think
the FedExCup points system rewards that.”
In Howell’s opinion, it worked.
“I think it was good and the reason why it’s good is that
we’re talking about it.”
The following week, Howell went 2-2-0 in his second
Presidents Cup appearance. One of his victories was with
Woods in the final foursomes’ match of the day over K.J.
Choi and Nick O’Hern, 3 and 1.
“It’s quite amazing, really. I’ve played in two Presidents
Cups and played five times now with Tiger as my partner.
Not only is he a great partner, but I enjoy playing with him
because I learn so much from the guy, especially during
competition when the shots matter.”
Since Howell has seen Woods play up close and personal,
he makes one particular observation along the way.
“From a physical nature, it’s the guy’s ability to score.
Through all the teachers, lessons and practice, the only
thing that really matters is what you shoot, and he has an
unbelievable ability to get the job done every day,” Howell
said. “His short game is the best in the world, so if he’s hitting
it good, he shoots 62. If he struggles a little bit, he
shoots 68 or 69. That’s his ace in the hole, his ability to
score. It’s amazing.”
Howell defeated Stuart Appleby in the Sunday singles
matches 2 and 1 for his other Presidents Cup victory.
Before turning pro, Howell earned a long list of amateur
credentials.
In 1996, at 17, Howell won the AJGA Player of the Year,
was a three-time first-team AJGA All-American and captured
the 1996 Rolex Tournament of Champions, the
biggest event on the junior circuit.
Howell was the 2000 NCAA champion as a junior at
Oklahoma State, where his winning total of 23-under set
an NCAA Championship scoring record. He was a twotime
first-team All-American and the recipient of the Jack
Nicklaus and Fred Haskins Awards, as well as the Big 12
Champion and Big 12 Player of the Year in 2000.
The week before turning professional, Howell tested the
waters and turned in a second-place finish at the
DEFENDING CHAMPION
Greensboro Open, the highest amateur finish in
Nationwide Tour history at the time.
Howell earned Special Temporary Member status in only
six events after turning professional on June 26, 2000. He
then made the cut in seven of 11 official TOUR events, his
best effort of the season a solo third at the John Deere
Classic.
The following year, Howell earned the 2001 Rookie of the
Year honors and captured his 2002 TOUR card after playing
TOUR events via sponsor exemptions. For the second
consecutive season, Howell earned Special Temporary
Member status, ranking first in PGA TOUR non-member
earnings with $1,520,632. The amount would have ranked
him 33rd on the official money list. To top it off, Howell nearly
won his first event after losing in a sudden-death playoff
to Shigeki Maruyama at the Greater Milwaukee Open,
where Howell birdied six of his last seven holes of regulation
to shoot a 64 and force the playoff.
In 2002, Howell recorded his first TOUR victory in his 68th
TOUR event at the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill.
Howell began the final round two strokes behind leader
Brandt Jobe. His final-round 67 gave Howell the two-stroke
victory.
With such an impressive resume and only two victories in
his TOUR career, Howell admits it frustrates him.
“Sure it does. The only thing you get remembered for out
here is how many times you’ve won,” he said. “At the end
of the day, the game of golf owes you nothing. That’s one
thing I’ve learned out here. But I realize that that’s how my
career will be judged and hopefully over the next five to 10
years I can change all that.”
With his talent and ever-growing maturity in his game at its
highest level, Howell is on track to fulfill the prophecy. But
even if he doesn’t, he understands what the competition is
really about.
“The fun part of golf is having a chance to win on Sunday
afternoon. And I think that’s what some folks miss is that if
you’re in the mix on Sunday afternoon with a chance to win,
when a good back nine will give you a shot at winning,
that’s what’s fun,” he said. “I understand it’s still about the
guy who is getting the job done. But at least it’s getting yourself
in contention and giving yourself a chance to do it.”
He’ll have many chances.
2008 OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE 19