After being burdened with tee times he called "late and later," Charles Howell finally got out early at Augusta National Golf Club, on the day nobody wants to be first.

Charles Howell looks at his tee shot from No. 5. With his first-of-the-day tee time, he made three birdies and six bogeys Saturday. (Annette M. Drowlette/Staff)

Playing in the lead twosome with Adam Scott, Howell fired 3-over-par 75 on a brisk and breezy Saturday morning. His three birdies and six bogeys were about par for the course under some of the toughest conditions ever faced at the Masters Tournament.

"It would be nice to see what the average score is today," Howell said. "Adam and I didn't play that bad to shoot 3- and 4-over. Birdies are just tough to come by today."

Starting the third round five hours in front of the co-leaders, but 10 shots behind them, Howell would have needed to go low to get himself into any sort of contention. Other years, when conditions are more conducive to scoring, the possibility of an early-morning 65 is reasonable.

That was hardly the case Saturday, when the wind chill was in the 40s. Howell said he changed his mind about nine times on clubs because the shifting winds were so unpredictable, but he hit 11 greens in regulation.

"I just felt like par was a hell of a score," said Howell, who moved up the leaderboard. "You've all seen tapes of guys shooting 30 on the back nine. I don't think you'll see that tape again this year."

With significant winds seemingly blowing into the players' faces at every turn, the options for making dramatic reversals of fortune were limited. The incoming par-5s weren't as accessible into the wind.

Howell said he wishes the par-5s on 13 and 15 would play more favorably.

"It would make it more exciting," he said. "But they are playing straight into the wind."

Howell has never seen the course play tougher, though he has experienced the same kind of weather out there before.

"When I come here to play at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's just like this," Howell said. "The wind is coming from the same direction, but - of course - the golf course is a little more playable for the members."

Coming into his sixth Masters as a potential favorite and one of the leading players on the PGA Tour, Howell was frustrated by a tough draw on the starting times.

He played with former two-time champion Jose Maria Olazabal and first-round co-leader Justin Rose on Thursday and Friday. The marquee grouping was in the TV window, meaning they drew the last morning tee time in the first round and the last tee time of the day in the second.

Howell had a pair of three-putt greens in the first two rounds but none Saturday.

"The greens are surprisingly chewed up late in the day," he said.

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

Annette M. Drowlette/Staff