Pardon the provincialism, but the Masters Tournament has clearly become less Augusta and more National.

Apparently, everyone in Augusta moved out of town this week and rented their homes to Phil Mickelson (Stats | Bio) (Stats | Bio) fans. I can come up with no other explanation for why there was so little love on the course Saturday for the hometown boy - Charles Howell.

Howell got lost in Mickelson's massive wake in the third round. A young man born and raised within a few miles of this hallowed venue was all but ignored by the teeming masses who surrounded him as he tried to make his hometown proud by contending in the hometown major.

It was all about Phil, Phil, Phil as the galleries tried to will Mickelson to his first major title.

Though he tried not to show it, Howell was clearly a little wounded at the lack of love. Asked about the fondness the galleries had for Phil and his major quest, Howell balked.

"You can ask Phil," he said.

Howell might as well have been from Augusta, Maine.

"I would have to agree with that statement," Howell said, trying hard not to seem hurt by what had to feel like a snub. "It's a fair statement that Phil has a whole lot of support, as he does wherever he plays. Quite frankly, I'm more worried about where my golf ball is and where I'm hitting it than anything else. You don't have time to think of that stuff out there."

There was a time when the Masters was a truly local event, when most of the patrons were from Augusta and places nearby. Augusta National members used to beg people to come watch the tournament.

Augustans obliged, their support helping to make the Masters into a big-time international event and the toughest ticket in the world.

But the effort to make a buck has turned this into anything but a local affair. Many of the old locals have either died or sold out, and most of today's patrons are from anywhere but home.

That wasn't so noticeable in 1987, when Augusta native Larry Mize (Stats | Bio) energized the galleries by defeating Australian Greg Norman and Spaniard Seve Ballesteros (Stats | Bio) in a playoff. It was us against the world then, and the local boy doing well lifted hearts all over town.

Howell just got paired with the wrong man at the wrong time - the tragic loser who has won the hearts of so many golf fans around the world.

"Phil is a very big draw, having never won a major and being on top of the leaderboard," Howell said. "He played great today."

There was no doubt about it. If the largest gallery on the course wasn't openly rude - moving the second Mickelson putted out before Howell had even finished the hole - they certainly didn't show the proper appreciation.

"I did the best I could do today for all 18 holes," Howell said.

"What do you say?"

Maybe all the Howell fans went home after an unlucky break led to a double bogey on the opening hole.

Howell hit a few poor shots, certainly, en route to a disappointing 76. But he hit some great shots that barely drew polite golf applause.

If Mickelson had hit some of the same shots, the place would have echoed with hysteria.

Take the perfect approaches that set up short birdie putts that Howell knocked in on Nos. 9 and 10. They were greeted with little more than nods of appreciation.

"Yeah, there were times I was surprised at some of the reactions - on 9 and 10," Howell admitted. "There were a lot of people out there rooting for Phil, and that's good for Phil. He has a lot of people behind him. A lot of support."

There should have been more support for Howell. He was 1-under for the tournament heading into Amen Corner before a pulled 8-iron into Rae's Creek led to double bogey at 11.

"I thought if I could somehow finish around 3-under, that would be good for tomorrow," he said after posting his second straight Saturday 76 in the Masters after starting the round in the top 10.

Howell knows he needs a great round today and a lot of help to get back in the picture from eight shots back.

"Obviously, I'd like to go out tomorrow and shoot a low round for sure," Howell said. "Geez, I love this place. I love the tournament. I love the golf course.

"It'll take some backing up from those guys and a really good round."

A little backup from the hometown crowds wouldn't hurt, either.

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.