Charles Howell III was the man of the moment in Mexico as he eased to a comfortable victory in the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba at El Camaleon Golf Club.

The Crushers star claimed his first title of the tour after starting the day a shot behind dominant 4 Aces’ latest signing Peter Uihlein and RangeGoats’ new boy Talor Gooch.

But, it was the veteran who has played this course more than any of the other 47 contenders, who came out on top to take the first of 14 lucrative winners’ cheques this season.

Howell was a man on a mission on a course he knows so well, carding eight birdies on a blemish-free round, while Uihlein faltered early and then, despite a late rally, never recovered from a horrendous treble at the 12th.

It’s Howell’s fourth worldwide victory of his career, and his first at El Camaleon, a course he first competed on in 2007 and was playing for the 14th time this week.

“Obviously, I don’t think you ever see a win coming,” said the 43-year-old Howell. “I’ve played in a lot of golf tournaments in my life, and I haven’t won a lot of them, and you have the doubts and the feelings, will you ever win again? To do it against this competition with these guys standing up here is more than I could ever dream of. I’m extremely thankful.”

Gooch simply had a mare, with six bogeys in a 76 tumbling him down to T-11.

Howell could not believe his luck and held his impeccable nerve for a four-stroke victory from 4 Aces Uihlein, with Stinger Branden Grace — so impressive early last year — third.

Howell’s triumph also meant Crushers finally got their first LIV Golf team victory, as Bryson DeChambeau finally came to the show after two poor days, going three-under on Sunday.

So it was all smiles for Crushers and Howell, who picked up a collective $7 million, with $4 million going to Howell and the team’s four players splitting a further $3 million.