SWINDON golfer David Howell is proving that it is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks after teaming up with a new coach saw him master the Albatross Golf Resort in Prague.

The 41-year-old has recently teamed up with golf instructor Brad Malone, the man behind Adam Scott’s US Masters success in 2013, and his third-place finish at the Czech Masters has shown that it is already having the desired effect.

Having overcome early season injury problems, Howell finished the tournament on 11-under-par to finish four shots behind winner Paul Peterson.

While the Broome Manor pro knows there is still more work to be done, he was happy with the early signs of his new relationship with the Hampshire man.

“I was delighted with the weekend,” said Howell.

“I started working with a new coach a couple of weeks ago and we had some pretty simple things to try and work on but new and it has got off to a positive start.

“He has got the mindset of coming from one of the best players in the world and what to expect.

“It is quite exciting to start with someone new. It is nice to get off to a good start and to think that there might be something in this.

“It never usually pans out as simple as you’d hoped but the early days are often a bit of a honeymoon period.

“My ball control at the weekend wasn’t perfect but it was a good performance and it felt great to be in the mix again.

“The way the year has been going, I needed that first good result to have the ranking and hopefully set up a good finish to the year.”

Howell put himself well in contention going into the weekend after a two-under-par round was followed by shooting four-under-par to give him the clubhouse lead at the end of his round on Friday.

A score of 71 saw him fall off the pace on Saturday but a second round of four-under-par on the final day, which included and eagle-three on the 12th, saw him finish tied third with Ryan Evans.

“It was a typical David Howell performance, if you like,” added the two-time Ryder Cup winner.

“I was far from perfect from tee to green but all the putts went in – well, all the long putts went in.

“I missed a couple of five-footers and if I sunk those then it could have been a different conversation we were having.

“It reminded me of my performances from the mid-2000s when I would often be in contention and finish in the top 10 without being in great control of the ball.

“It goes to show that I am thinking really well and my short game is in great shape and the result was a third-place finish.”

Howell is next back in action at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland on Thursday, September 1.