PACIFIC PALISADES – It’s validation day. Charles Howell III, seeking the second victory of his career as the Nissan Open enters its final round today at Riviera, has never won a tournament with Tiger Woods in the field, something he conceded would help him feel like he’s “arrived.”
Howell, too, never has slept on a 54-hole lead entering the final round, something he did last night after shooting a 3-under 68 yesterday and forging a three-shot lead – at 11-under-par – over his idol, Nick Price.
“This is new territory,” the affable 23-year-old Augusta native said. “It’s another step along way that I have to go through. Sleeping with a 54-hole lead is what we play for. There’s no other place I would rather be. But I still have to play well [today] to win the golf tournament.”
The 46-year-old Price, who’s known Howell since he was a 10-year-old kid working with instructor David Ledbetter in Florida, said he figures the best he has in him today is a 66 or 67, meaning he’ll need Howell to shoot around 71 to overtake him.
“Charlie hasn’t been there too often,” Price said. “I guess that might be the only thing I have going for me. But he showed great maturity [yesterday] and made some smart plays. He doesn’t look to have any chinks in his armor. This guy has got everything.”
Howell, whose only PGA Tour win came last fall at the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill, birdied Nos. 1 and 2 yesterday to increase the 36-hole lead from one shot to four shots, as Price faltered early with a bogey on No. 2.
Howell twice had a five-shot lead. He eagled No. 11 to go 12-under.
“To birdie the first two holes was big,” Howell said. “I’ve never played with a 36-hole lead – especially playing against a robot [Price]. I know from first tee he’s not going to make any mistakes.”
Price and nerves aren’t the only things Howell must deal with today. You have to go back to the 1997 Nissan Open to find a third-round leader (Nick Faldo) who won this tournament.
Howell, of course, won’t be thinking of that. Nor will Howell have to think about Woods, who flamed out early with a double-bogey 7 on No. 1, where he hooked his tee shot into the parking lot. Woods, who carded at 2-over 73 for the day, is at even par for the tournament, 11 shots back.
Woods said he doesn’t expect Howell to come back to the pack, “not the way he’s playing.”
“He’s got a pretty good cushion,” Woods said. “If [Howell] goes out there and plays the way he’s been playing, he’ll be just fine.
“I’ve always liked Charles,” Woods said. “I played him in the U.S. Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge and even then he was a heck of talent. It was just a matter of him growing into the game. He’s done a heck of a job getting stronger and better. There’s no one out here probably that works harder than Charles; he spends a lot of time practicing and it’s obviously paying off.”
While Howell conceded, “I’m just now starting to learn how to play,” he also said he believes playing with Price will help calm his nerves today.
“Nick has always been a god in my life, in my book,” Howell said. “When I was lining up my eagle putt on 11, when Nick walked by me, he said, ‘Knock it in,’ That means a lot. Although we are trying to beat each other, we aren’t trying to kill each other.”