Silence is golden for Howell

The noise – or rather lack of it – was enough to tell Charles Howell that Tiger Woods was not a threat to him in the third round of the Nissan Open in Los Angeles today.

Howell, the 23-year-old who is one of America’s most exciting prospects, has decided this season not to look at leaderboards until the last few holes, but such is the following that Woods attracts wherever he plays that sound carries across the whole golf course when he is going well.