Howell played bogey-free golf on his way to a 4-under-par 67 and a share of the lead with Keegan Bradley and Ken Duke in the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth had to get up-and-down to save bogey four times on his opening seven holes, and did not recover.
Duke also played bogey-free and made birdies on the two par-3s on the back nine that were into the wind and over the water.
American Peter Uihlein had nine birdies in a round of 8-under 64 as he took a one-stroke lead over Pelle Edberg in the True Thailand Classic in Hua Hin.
