DETROIT – With soft greens and calm conditions, many of the biggest hitters in the game were expected to carve up Detroit Golf Club during the opening round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Think Bubba Watson, or perhaps Rickie Fowler.
Instead, it was Charles Howell III who authored the blueprint for how to bend the longest holes to his will.
Howell has never been confused with a bomber, ranking 44th this season in driving distance. But he put on a show Thursday across a quartet of par 5s, carding two eagles and two birdies en route to a 7-under 65 that left him two shots off the early lead.