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The Desert Classic: Power ranking the top 10 golfers at PGA West

By Mike Randleman

LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 21: The group of Andrew Landry, Austin Cook and Martin Piller walk up the fairway during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 21, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 21: The group of Andrew Landry, Austin Cook and Martin Piller walk up the fairway during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 21, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 23: Charles Howell III leaves the 10th green during the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge In Partnership With The Clinton Foundation at La Quinta Country Club on January 23, 2016 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 23: Charles Howell III leaves the 10th green during the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge In Partnership With The Clinton Foundation at La Quinta Country Club on January 23, 2016 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Charles Howell III hasn’t missed a Desert Classic since 2009. As long as he’s got his Tour card, I envision him sticking with this event for a while longer.

In 13 starts dating back to 2002, CH-III owns two top-10s (including a T2 in 2013) as part of seven top-30s. What he did back in his 20s don’t mean a ton now, but he’s been solid in his last three times out: T11, T12 and T20.

Howell III has also been on fire going back to the fall. He went to Malaysia to finish T5 at the CIMB Classic, won the RSM Classic in his home state of Georgia and now went T14-T8 in Hawaii.

After an opening 74 at the Tournament of Champions, his last seven rounds have been 70-69-69-69-66-64-66.

The 39-year-old had a bit of trouble hitting Waialae’s narrow fairways last week, but he’ll be more at ease with PGA West’s/La Quinta’s more generous fairways. Plus, driving accuracy (74.22 percent, 18th last season) is usually his forte.

He was 38th in strokes gained tee to green last season and 32nd in par-5 scoring. Putting has kept the top-10 machine from winning more in his career, but he’s been in the top-90 and in the positive in strokes gained each of the last three seasons.

Fun fact before we move on: Like Phil Mickelson, this tournament has gone by five different names since they debuted: the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the Bob Hope Classic, the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation and now finally the Desert Classic presented by Workday.

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