Howell Slays the Tiger in China

[Gxgolfer]

By Erik J. Barzeski via TheSandTrap.com

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Tiger Woods breathed down David Howell's neck all weekend at the inaugural HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai, but Woods never made the move that everyone thought was inevitable.

Tiger Woods three-putted for bogey from 15 feet on the fifth hole while Englishman David Howell birdied from four feet, a two-shot swing that set the tone for the final round of the HSBC Tournament of Champions as Tiger fell four shots back after starting the day one back. After that, the Englishman marched to victory in the $5 million all-star event that also served as the opener of the 2006 European Tour season.

Howell began the final round at Sheshan International Golf Club a single shot ahead of Woods and Nick O'Hern of Australia, and finished up three ahead of the world No. 1 at 20-under 268 after his second straight 68. Woods finished with a 2-under 70, his worst round of the week, to end up at 17-under 271.

While most everyone on hand expected Woods to come out flying, it was Howell instead who shot out of the blocks. Howell birdied four of the first seven holes, while Woods could manage only birdies on the par-3 fourth and par-4 seventh sandwiched around a bogey on the par-5 fourth.

Howell stumbled with bogeys on the par-5 eighth and par-4 ninth to come back toward Woods, but the world No. 1 could not take advantage of his second chance. Woods birdied the par-3 12th, but his second bogey in three days on the par-4 16th all but sealed his fate.
Howell, meanwhile, bounced back from those two bogeys with a birdie on the par-4 10th and another at the par-3 12th, and he was back in complete control.

Pos Player R1 R2 R3 R4 Tot
1 David HOWELL (Eng) 65 67 68 68 -20
2 Tiger WOODS (USA) 65 69 67 70 -17
T3 Nick O'HERN (Aus) 67 67 67 73 -14
Nick DOUGHERTY (Eng) 64 68 73 69 -14
T5 Vijay SINGH (Fiji) 67 69 70 69 -13
Thomas BJÖRN (Den) 67 69 69 75 -13
7 Paul CASEY (Eng) 67 68 73 68 -12
T8 Jean-François REMESY (Fr) 70 67 70 70 -11
Thaworn WIRATCHANT (Thai) 67 68 69 73 -11
10 Michael CAMPBELL (NZ) 66 70 69 73 -10
11 Paul LAWRIE (Scot) 64 75 70 70 -9
T12 K J CHOI (Kor) 65 71 74 70 -8
Arjun ATWAL (Ind) 69 70 73 68 -8
Lee WESTWOOD (Eng) 70 69 74 67 -8
T15 Padraig HARRINGTON (Ire) 69 72 72 68 -7
Steve WEBSTER (Eng) 72 70 71 68 -7
Peter O'MALLEY (Aus) 64 72 73 72 -7
Thongchai JAIDEE (Thai) 67 73 71 70 -7

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[mike0814]

David is a really solid golfer with a good attitude. He could win a major real soon.

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... watched just about everyone hit balls after their rounds at the amex last month. if someone asked me, "who do you think is the best ball-striker?" ... i would have said howell. he just striped everything in the bag, one shot after another. a lot of other guys were spraying it around pretty bad.

[corky]

David is a really solid golfer with a good attitude. He could win a major real soon.

64322[/snapback]

 

... watched just about everyone hit balls after their rounds at the amex last month. if someone asked me, "who do you think is the best ball-striker?" ... i would have said howell. he just striped everything in the bag, one shot after another. a lot of other guys were spraying it around pretty bad.

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Look out for Howell's profile to be raised significantly in 2006.....

 

He's got game + Brains + a down-to-earth philosophy IMHO

[Langlands]

Good to see Howell start to fulfil the promise he's been showing for some time with 2 big wins in the last couple of months. He had back-to-back runner-up spots earlier in the season when he really should have won both times, glad that he stuck to his task and came good.

 

Not the most natural looking method but effective, bit like Harrington.