Charles Howell III caps off PGA’s “Year of Redemption”

Charles Howell III snaps a 4,242-day winless drought with playoff win at the RSM Classic in Georgia, only the latest player to mount a career comeback in 2018

At the end of what’s already been the “Year of Redemption” on the PGA Tour, Charles Howell III outdoes this all.

Howell, the 39-year-old Augusta, Ga., native, won the RSM Classic in his home state on Sunday, defeating Patrick Rodgers on the second extra hole for his third career win and first since 2007.

Howell made three straight birdies on holes 15-17 on the Seaside course of Sea Island Golf Club to tie Rodgers, then missed a 22-foot birdie putt at the 18th to win. Going back to the 18th for the start of a sudden-death playoff, he again missed a birdie chance to win.

Playing the 18th for a third time on the second extra hole, Howell faced another 22-footer for birdie, the same length he missed from in regulation. This time he made it, sinking to his knees in disbelief that he’d actually done it.

"“All the emotion of the 11 years,” Howell said when describing his emotions after that clinching putt. “It was initially shock and then the relief.”"

Howell had gone 4,242 days and 333 starts since his last win, at the Nissan Open in 2007. It’s been a constant theme on the PGA Tour throughout 2018, with 11 players this year ending winless droughts of at least 1,500 days.

Paul Casey won for the first time since 2009, Kevin Na since 2011, and Ted Potter Jr., Ian Poulter and Keegan Bradley since 2012. Phil Mickelson, Gary Woodland and Webb Simpson all snapped five-year droughts.

Matt Kuchar, last week’s winner at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, won for the first time since 2014.

Then there is Tiger Woods, whose five-year winless skid came to an end with a dramatic victory at the Tour Championship in September.

Howell sympathizes with all of them, and understands that failure comes with being a professional golfer.

"“You know, golf is a brutal game. And the highs of the high, it comes with a lot of really low lows,” he said. “You work, and then you practice, and you prepare, and you think you’re doing all the right things, and the results don’t quite show that. So then you start to question everything, really.”"

To get back in the winner’s circle, Howell had to contend with a history-making performance from Rodgers.

The 26-year-old former amateur star made the cut on the number on Friday, then shot 61-62 on the weekend, setting a new PGA Tour record for lowest final 36-hole score. Howell and Rodgers tied at 19-under, one ahead of Simpson.

Howell got to celebrate his win with two people who’d never experienced it. His children, Ansley and Chase, weren’t even born the last time he won. On Sunday they were there watching their dad and celebrating with the trophy afterwards.

Howell says being able to share it with his kids makes this victory all the more special.

“It means a lot to me because they’re now old enough to understand it and appreciate it,” he said. “And they can see now what I do.”

Continuing the theme of career resurgences that permeated throughout golf this year, Danny Willett won the European Tour’s season-ending event, the DP World Tour Championship, on Sunday.

Willett, the 2016 Masters champion, had made 63 starts worldwide since his triumph at Augusta without a win and fell outside the top 400 in the world rankings at one point.

On the LPGA Tour, Lexi Thompson won for the first time in 2018 at the CME Group Tour Championship after a tumultuous year in which she skipped a month of the season to deal with personal issues off the course.

Howell is the perfect ambassador to describe what can be learned from his journey, and the journey of the other players who achieved redemption in 2018. His message: believe in yourself and don’t give up.

"“It’s a wonderful lesson to be learned that if you truly believe in what you’re doing,” he said, “to stay the course.”"

One perk that Howell gets for becoming a PGA champion again: he gets to go home to Augusta for the Masters in April.