DAVID Howell believes that his last minute dash to London to see his chiropractor just a day before the start of Tshwane Open has paid dividends.

The Broome Manor pro – who arrived in South Africa the night before the start of the competition – ended the tournament with a fine eight-under-par after shooting four-under on the final day.

Despite finishing some way off the top of the leaderboard in Centurion, Howell believes that the whole week was worthwhile as he prepares for the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco in 10 days time.

“By the end of the last round I wasn’t feeling my back at all,” Howell said. “I had a good round and hitting and putting the ball nicely - it has been good week.

“It makes making that gamble of the late dash to London all worthwhile.

“Hopefully, I can take this momentum into the next tournament in Morocco which I’m really looking forward too.

“Of course, the aim is to try and win there, but if I can push into the top 10 then I’ll be happy.”

The weekend had started badly for Howell as he shot a two-over-par 74 on Saturday, including a double-bogey five on the 14th hole.

But he hit back with his best round of 68 in his next round 24 hours later.

“To bounce back like I did on the Sunday was very pleasing, especially considering the miserable conditions we had,” Howell said.

“I didn’t feel like I had been playing all that well in the first three rounds, but I had got my putting down under 30 on the Sunday and managed to chip one in as well.”

Howell’s final round got off to the perfect start as he birdied the opening hole, as well the fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth and 16th, but a bogey on the second slightly blotted his copybook.

With the start of the Hassan tournament 10 days away, Howell says that he will keep things to a minimum before arriving in Morocco.

“I find less is more these days,” the 38-year-old. “I’m going to enjoy a bit of family time.

“I’ll maybe do a bit of putting and work on a few things, but the may thing is to rest - that is my regime.”