WHEN David Howell takes to the golf course in Barcelona this afternoon there will be a familiar face alongside him in former caddie Jason Hempleman.

Howell will be hoping to pick up where he left off in China when he tees off at the Open de España, having narrowly missed out on victory at the China Open.

In his last outing the Broome Manor pro went into the last hole of the weekend level with China’s Ashun Wu but a poor second shot left him in trouble and he ended up just short of winning his first tournament in two years.

Despite that disappointment, six top-five finishes in his last six tournaments on the European Tour will leave the 39-year-old full of confidence.

“I’m feeling good,” said Howell.

“Jason Hempleman, my old caddie, is working for me this week because my caddie couldn’t make it for personal reasons so I managed to hook up with Jason, which is nice.

“We’ll be having a re-union after 12 years so hopefully it will be a happy re-union for us.

“I’ve been in nice form in practice.

“I think the course is not going to be that easy. The greens are quite firm, not quite as tricky a test as we had in China, but not dissimilar in the fact that the course is pretty firm so you have to be careful about where you hit the ball.

“It is definitely the most consistent good form I have had for many a year and I am turning my good weeks into really good finishes.

“That is why I am up there in the order of merit and in a nice position.

“I’ll take nothing for granted, this is a fresh week but I do come in with confidence which is nice.”

Howell will tee off at the Real Club de Golf El Prat, near Barcelona, at 1.10pm alongside Matteo Manassero and Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

The Swindon golfer will be up against a tough field, with last year’s winner Miguel Angel Jimenez looking to defend his crown and fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia also gunning for victory, following his near-miss in the Players Championship on Sunday, when he lost out in a play-off to Rickie Fowler.

“It’s a good field this week, much more of a European Tour feel and a few of the more well known faces are here this week.

“(Francesco) Molinari is back and obviously Sergio is playing so there is a really strong Spanish contingent.

“We’re not quite back at the level of next week’s field at the PGA but it is strong stuff and it is a big tournament.

“It is an old title and whoever manages to join the ranks this week will be very proud.”