LIV Golf 2026 Season Player Preview: Charles Howell III

The 2026 LIV Golf season starts next February under the lights in Riyadh, and in the next few months, we’ll take a detailed look at each player competing next season. Next up is 2023 LIV Golf Mayakoba winner, Charles Howell III of Crushers GC.

LOOKING AHEAD 

Now entering his late 40s, Charles Howell III is one of LIV Golf’s most experienced and battle-tested veterans who still can compete at a high level. With Crushers GC looking to avenge their playoff loss in the Michigan Team Championship, his role as the steady, low-drama anchor alongside Captain Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey, and Anirban Lahiri is just as valuable as ever. On shorter courses, Howell III’s ball-striking prowess remains intact. He may not contend to win many events, but steady play with the upside of staying inside the Lock Zone for 2026 would be ideal for Howell III.

LOOKING BACK 

Howell III has been a solid anchor for Crushers GC, and his consistency has made it one of the deepest teams in the league. The veteran posted just two individual top-10 finishes in 2025 yet landed inside the points-earning top 24 on six occasions. In both of Crushers GC’s team victories, however, he delivered top-5 finishes, proving once again how vital his steady presence is to the team’s success. At LIV Golf Korea, Howell III pushed DeChambeau and finished runner-up to the superstar.

WHAT THE STATS SAY

Strengths: Howell ranked 21st in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee in 2025, highlighting just how steady he is with the driver. He averaged 310.4 yards per drive, which is sneaky long given he is one of the older players in the league. He also ranked 25th in Strokes Gained: Approach, demonstrating that he is still a very capable ball striker. Howell III thrived with his approach shots from 150 yards and in, where he ranked 15th.

Howell III’s short game was very solid. He ranked 18th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 26th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Weaknesses: Howell III had very few statistical weaknesses and was league average or better in just about every category. However, his sand save percentage was only 42%, placing him in the bottom 10 players in the league. He played the par 3 holes to a cumulative +11, which ranked in the bottom third of the league.

CAREER RESULTS

LIV GOLF REGULAR SEASON

Year     Team                 Starts Rounds 1st  2nd  3rd   Total Top 10   Total Top 24
2022    Crushers GC   5          15            0     0       0       1                       4                  
2023    Crushers GC   13        39            1     0       0       5                       9                  
2024    Crushers GC   9          27            0    0       0       3                       3                 
2025    Crushers GC   13        39            0    1        0       2                       7                 
Total                               40       120           1     1        0      11                      23

TOTAL TROPHIES WON (10)

Individal Regular Season Wins: 1
Team Regular Season Wins: 8
Individual Championship: 0
Team Championship: 1

LIV GOLF CAREER SCORING

Stroke Average Total: 69.53
Round 1 Average: 69.95
Round 2 Average: 69.73
Round 3 Average: 68.90

Lowest Round: 63

BOTTOM LINE

Howell III has been a tremendous part of Crushers GC’s success and will continue to serve as a stalwart for the team going forward. DeChambeau’s Crushers have an advantage of both camaraderie and continuity with the veteran serving as a model of quiet reliability for both the team and LIV Golf.