WITH the BMW PGA Championship taking place just a stone’s throw away from his Surrey home, David Howell admits that he couldn’t resist the temptation of launching his injury comeback at Wentworth.

Since aggravating a long-standing foot problem in February, the Swindon star hasn’t been in action since withdrawing from the Maybank Championship in Malaysia that month but after a frustrating spell kicking his heels, Howell is set to return to action at the European Tour’s flagship event this morning.

The 40-year-old, who tees off at 9.05am alongside Alvaro Quiros and Brett Rumford, accepts that he may never again feel ‘100 per cent’ but after finally being able to enjoy some practice rounds in recent weeks, Howell feels just about ready to take the plunge.

“I played on Monday and Tuesday, and didn’t have any reaction, and I hit some more balls on Wednesday, so it’s so far, so good,” said the former Ryder Cup player, who famously won the prestigious tournament in 2006.

“I’m not at 100 per cent yet but I think that it’s always going to be like that. I don’t think that my foot is ever going to feel the same and that’s something that I’m going to have to deal with.

“I’m at that stage where I know my own body and I think that it’s down to me to come back – there’s no point in waiting and waiting.

“If I wasn’t at Wentworth, then I’d be turning up to hit balls a mile away anyway, so I might as well try and play.

“If I had to fly to a competition, I wouldn’t’ be able to do that. My preparation hasn’t been great but in the last three or four years, I’ve prepared really well and not made the cut, so I can’t do any worse.”

The allure of this year’s BMW PGA Championship has been called into question, with just four players from the world top 30, including Masters champion Danny Willett, taking part.

But for Howell, the wonder of Wentworth remains indisputable.

The Broome Manor ace said: “In this country, it’s the biggest event after The Open and for a lot of players, it’s the event that always stands out on the schedule – I fall into that category.

“But golfers are very selfish sportsmen. There are a lot of guys that haven’t clicked with the course since it was last changed (in 2009) and don’t want to turn up somewhere they’ll play badly. It’s selfish but they’re within their rights.

“Some people can get better prize money at PGA events in America but I think it’s still a huge tournament and a chance to play on a lovely course in front of a great crowd.”