SWINDON golfer David Howell has pulled out of the Spanish Open in Catalunya with a wrist injury.

The tournament at the Catalunya Resort in Girona, Spain, starts today, and comes a week ahead of the PGA Championship at Wentworth.

And it’s with the European Tour’s flagship tournament in mind that Howell has decided to rest his wrist.

The Broome Manor pro also sat out the last week’s Singapore Championships and has admitted his recent form has been shocking.

Speaking to the Advertiser Howell said the injury was nothing too serious and had the PGAs been starting today he would have been able to play.

“I have a little bit of a sore wrist, I’ve got to make sure I’m alright for next week,” said Howell. “It’s a bit of a precautionary thing, nothing too bad. I’ve just got to do the sensible thing and give it some rest ahead of what is probably the biggest tournament of the year so far next week.

“I played nine holes yesterday, and I could feel it all day. I couldn’t hit quite as many balls today, I could just see myself maybe limping through this week and not doing so well. It’s very disappointing really, for what it is, it is a nice tournament in Spain and a bit of a testing one ahead of next week.

“Compared to last season when everything flowed so easily this year’s got off to a shocker now. I’m comfortable with the decision to miss this one out. Had today had been next Wednesday and the PGAs I would definitely be playing. I had the wrist injected had around Christmas and it’s been fine but for whatever reason the last two days it’s swollen up a bit.”

Wrag Barn’s Josh Loughrey will be looking to bounce back from missing the cut at the Gosser Open with a strong performance at the Alps Tour Colli Berici event near Vicenza in Italy.

The tournament starts today where Loughrey will be teeing off at 5.52am UK time alongside Bendetto Pastore of Italy and Romain Schneider of France.