NEW dad David Howell admits he is not as well-rested as he might be ahead of his return to competitive golf in the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa this morning.

The 38-year-old Swindonian became a father for the second and third time just over a month ago when his partner Emily gave birth to identical twins Charles and Samuel.

Firstborn son Freddie is two months away from his second birthday and Howell has found himself rather busy since he returned to domestic life following his win with Europe in the Royal Trophy just before Christmas.

“I would like to say I am well-rested but that would be a lie as proven by the fact that I am missing an hour of my life,” Howell wrote on his blog.

“I cannot recall anything about collecting my bags on arrival in Dubai (Howell’s winter residence), and I mean anything.

“For the life of me I can't remember, nor can I remember getting a cab or arriving at the apartment for that matter.

“I draw an absolute blank on that whole hour of my life and not one alcoholic beverage had passed my lips.

“That is what twin newborn boys and a toddler do to your system, so I have come away for four tournaments in a row for a rest.”

Howell is part of an elite field of just 36 at Durban Country Club with the Broome Manor pro qualifying by virtue of his victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in September.

There is no cut at the $4,000,000 tournament and world number 93 Howell insists he just wants to get off to a good start after a 2013 in which he breathed new life into his golfing career, “It’s a big event with a small but high quality field on an old-fashioned classic golf course - a good test to see where my game is at,” said Howell.

“Last year is now consigned to history and once again the merry-go-round is about to start, for the 19th time in my case.

“I can hardly believe it, half of my life has now been spent travelling the globe playing golf for a living. It’s gone by in a flash.”

Howell tees off alongside Mikko Ilonen at 9.10am GMT (11.10am local time).