Howell returns to Crushers lineup after a 12-week injury absence

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Yes, Charles Howell III expects to be rusty at this week’s LIV Golf Greenbrier.

Howell is back in action for the first time in three months after suffering a stress fracture in his lower left tibia. His return means the Crushers GC lineup that won last year’s Team Championship will be intact for its title defense next month in Dallas.

“Great to be back,” said the 45-year-old Howell. “Holy cow.”

His last competitive appearance was the final round at LIV Golf Singapore on May 5. He missed the LIV Golf tournaments in Nashville and Houston in June, and Andalucía and UK in July, and he only started hitting balls with a full swing less than a week ago.

“Obviously have to knock off a bit of rust this week from the competitive side,” said Howell. “Hopefully I can knock that off pretty quick.”

Howell first began experiencing pain in his lower left leg during the week at Singapore. Initially, he thought it might be shin splints and was hoping he could recover with some rest. After unsuccessfully trying to practice, he gave it more rest. A second attempt to practice also proved unsuccessful.

That’s when he called LIV Golf’s medical staff. MRIs and blood tests were ordered, and the stress fracture diagnosis was more severe than he expected. He immediately began rehab and therapy work.

While his roster spot was filled by reserve John Catlin, Howell missed a key part of the schedule that he thought would provide multiple chances to contend. Meanwhile, he dropped from 19th (and inside the Lock Zone) to 27th (and just outside it) in the season-long individual points race in his four missed starts.

“A lot of anxiety and frustration,” he recalled. “I really wanted to play in Houston. I wanted to play in Nashville. I love the two in Europe. I think missing the tournaments made it the most, I would say, depressing part of it.

“I want to be out there playing. I had a nice start to the year and was excited about that. And then missed the events, and I wasn’t able to practice either.”

Although there are just three tournaments left in the season, Howell said it never crossed his mind to take the rest of the year off.

“No, I would find some way to [return],” he said. “I was quite disciplined in the things I needed to do to get better and to feel better.”

As far as expectations this week, Howell is as curious as everybody else in how he’ll fare on The Old White course. He said a key will be to manage his own expectations and not be too hard on himself in his first start back.

“I’ve never really had an injury before, especially out for 12 weeks,” Howell said. “Obviously I never thought it would to that extent and take that amount of time that it did. But all’s well that ends well, so I’m here now.”