EUROPEAN Tour veteran David Howell has hailed the appearance of more players from Wiltshire at the highest levels of the sport.

Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter have both made good progress since joining the European Tour, with the former claiming third place at the BMW SA Open last weekend.

The performance of Smith, who is from Derry Hill and plays out of the Bowood club, playing alongside four-time major winner and world number two Rory McIlroy in the final round in South Africa, nudged him into the world’s top 100 at 93.

Canter, of the Cumberwell Park club near Bradford on Avon, also had a weekend to remember as he finished tied 14th.

Swindon's Howell missed the tournament due to family reasons, but is more than happy to see the younger county players thrive on the Tour in his absence.

“It’s great, I don’t know either of them well because obviously they are a different generation to me, I’ve said hello to both of them,” said the 41-year-old.

“Laurie (Canter) and Jordan (Smith) have come through and are now out and playing well, which is great news.

“It’s taken a long time to get anyone from Wiltshire out and on to the Tour, a few players have come close.

“But I have pretty much been the sole man on the main tour for the past 20 years so it is great to have some local boys out.”

The two-time Ryder Cup winner also said he has been aware of the players for a number of years after a friend pointed them out to him “My friend Kevin Phillips was actually county captain with them and he’s been telling me for a good number of years that there are some young lads who are really looking good.

“Especially Jordan (Smith), he won the Challenge Tour which is a great thing so he will get a really good crack at everything this year.

“He looks like a really competent player and has made a very good start so far. Laurie (Canter) I don’t know quite so much about but they are clearly both looking good.”