Howell Shoots for Fitness

Charles Howell III was runner-up in the Nissan Open last year after losing a one-hole playoff to Mike Weir, but he hopes just to make it through this week at Riviera Country Club without getting sick.

In each of the last two weeks, he hasn’t been able to do that.

Saturday, during the third round of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Howell began getting chills and a bad headache. He completed the round and returned to his hotel room but felt worse as the evening went on.

“I was shaking really bad,” he said. “I couldn’t get warm.”

He went to a hospital at about 8 p.m., and doctors told him he had a fever of 104 and administered an IV. He was released at 3 a.m., made his tee time the next morning, shot 73 and tied for 66th.

“We’re hoping it was just a virus coming through,” Howell said. “The only thing I know is that I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”

At Pebble Beach the week before, he became ill early Sunday. He played later that day, shot 72 and tied for 35th.

“It’s been a little bit interesting,” Howell said. “I’m on antibiotics now so I feel fine, but it’s weird. You take your health for granted until you get sick like that.”

The thought of pulling out of either tournament didn’t cross Howell’s mind.

“I don’t like to withdraw,” he said. “I’ve never withdrawn from a tournament, and I didn’t want to start.

“But Sunday at Pebble was the first time I’ve ever played a competitive round without hitting balls before. Sunday at San Diego I only hit maybe 10 balls.”

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Weir arrived at Riviera on Tuesday and played the front nine. He said he had been struggling with his putter earlier in the year, but sorted it out by putting with a sand wedge for nine holes at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

“I put my putter away, and on the very next hole I had a 15-foot putt for eagle,” Weir said. “I took my wedge out and knocked it in. Sometimes you just need to put the putter away.”

Weir finished fifth the following week at the FBR Open, then finished fourth at Pebble Beach. He took last week off to ski and train his new puppy.

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Isabelle Beisiegel shot six-over-par 78 at Industry Hills Golf Club and failed in her bid to become the first woman since Babe Zaharias in 1938 to qualify for a PGA Tour event.

Beisiegel, who played the Babe course, finished 11 shots behind Ryan Palmer and Russ Cochran, who earned spots in the Nissan Open. Daniel Chopra and Robin Freeman also earned spots. Chopra shot 66 on the Ike course, and Robin Freeman shot 67.

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Nissan Open

* When: Thursday-Sunday.

* Where: Riviera Country Club (7,250 yards, par 71).

* Purse: $4.8 million. Winner’s share: $864,000.

* TV: USA (Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.) and Channel 7 (Saturday, noon-3 p.m.; Sunday, noon-3:30 p.m.).

* 2003 winner: Mike Weir.