Charles Howell III avoids Saudi Arabia human rights abuses, explains why he joined LIV Golf after 22-year PGA Tour career

This may come as a shock to most golf fans, but Charles Howell III was always destined to join LIV Golf.

Despite his “22 wonderful years on the PGA Tour” that spanned 608 events and earned the 43-year-old more than $42 million with just three wins, Howell was ready for a change. Plus he idolizes LIV’s leader.

“Greg Norman was my hero as a kid growing up. I mean, every year at the Masters and Augusta, I couldn’t wait to get out there and watch Greg Norman play,” said Howell, an Augusta, Georgia, native. “Man, he was an idol. I had a life-sized cardboard cutout of Greg in my room way back in his Spalding days. He was just the man.”

Howell is one of the latest players to take his talents to the upstart circuit backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and will make his debut this week at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. When asked about the human rights issues in the Kingdom in the pre-event press conference featuring fellow LIV rookies Jason Kokrak and Paul Casey, Howell admitted that while he’s never been to Saudi Arabia, he’s “excited to go.”

“Being a sports fan, I believe sports can be a force for good and change,” said Howell, invoking a frequently used talking point by players to deflect difficult questions from the media. “Example in Saudi Arabia, Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 driver, speaks out on these issues. We’re speaking out on these issues right now and today. That’s the first step of change.”

Howell actually neglected to take that first step and didn’t say a single word about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, gay people being subject to capital punishment or women’s rights, despite being explicitly asked to speak out on those very issues during the press conference.

Instead, he added, “I believe golf can, will be and is a force for change and good, and that’s why I’m sitting here.”

Speaking of Formula 1, the race in Saudi Arabia in March of this year was almost canceled after a missile strike hit Jeddah just 10 miles from the track. Drivers had a four-hour meeting the Friday before the race and discussed a boycott, but were ultimately continued on with the weekend’s events.

While Howell can’t wait to get to Saudi Arabia and travel more internationally with his family, Hamilton couldn’t wait to get out.

“I am so happy the weekend is done,” said Hamilton, a seven-time world champion in the sport who wore the Progress Pride flag on his helmet when he won the inaugural race in the Kingdom in 2021. “I am so happy that everyone is safe, I am just looking forward to getting out. I just want to go home.”

“Of course, I am relieved (to have got through the weekend),” added fellow driver Lando Norris. “It is a nervous place to be and you are going to have these nerves.”

Like the rest of his colleagues, Howell played up the excitement of the team event and downplayed the millions of dollars in guaranteed money as the reason for his decision to join LIV, going as far as saying, “No, money was not a factor.”

“I still love the game. I love the game more today than I did five years ago. Now that my son is playing competitive golf, I’m even more incentivized in the game,” said Howell. “This is something really new and exciting.