Howell cautious over form

Howell: Injury nightmare

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David Howell is remaining cautious despite his game seemingly showing the green shoots of recovery in recent weeks.

The 32-year-old has been beset by back and wrist injury problems over the last couple of years with his game, understandably, taking a nose-dive in the process.

Howell stood as high as number nine in the world in 2006 and was also a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team at the K Club where he won the side 2½ points.

Since then virtually nothing has gone right for the Swindon professional who, after a 2007 he described as his 'annus horribilis', now finds himself at 174 in the world.

But there are now signs that Howell could be on the road back to the top even if the player himself is quick to sound a note of caution at such talk.

The Englishman has had to remodel his swing in a bid to avoid further injury strife and admits he is still in the process of familiarising himself with a number "unnatural" changes.

However, he secured his first top-ten finish since the 2006 Volvo Masters in Qatar last month and came home 44th in the Dubai Desert Classic last week, results that he views as "positive".

Positive

"I wouldn't say it's been a solid start to the year, it's been positive," he stated. "Last year was quite amazing how poorly I played even with injuries. I didn't put a good round of golf together hardly at all so it's been a positive start.

"But I am in transition with where I am trying to go with my swing which will allow me to control the ball better than I have been. It is very hard to play while trying to make changes so I am limiting my chances of how well I can play at the moment when I swing the club in a different way, but soon that will click and I will be off and running. I have made some nice changes but they are still unnatural.

"I am really looking at this half of the year to look at my technique and make the changes I want to and if good results come along then great and hopefully things will click soon enough.

"I just need to keep faith and be patient. If it takes two years to be a better player than the one I was two years ago then I am going to have a great career again."