Howell was born on June 28, 2007, in
Moultrie, Georgia, where he grew up. His father was a
tennis player at
Valdosta State University. Howell became interested in
golf at a young age, watching the
PGA Tour on television at age two or three. At age four, he dressed as golfer
Bobby Jones for
Halloween, and the next year he received his first set of clubs. He started competing in tournaments at age six. He also competed in tennis,
baseball and
table tennis as he grew up, but decided to concentrate on golf at age 12. Howell attended the
Maclay School in
Tallahassee, Florida, where, in
sixth grade, he became a member of the golf
varsity team, which included players up to six years older than himself. He later attended the
Brookwood School in Thomasville where he became the GIAA Class AAA state champion in individual play and also won a team state title. Howell broke the course record at the Glen Arven Country Club at age 14, finishing in 59 strokes. He was champion of the Future Masters tournament in the 13-14 category in 2022 and then became champion of the Billy Horschel Junior Championship in 2023. ==Amateur career==