DAVID Howell admitted that his season-opening performance at last week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship left him feeling somewhat ‘cheesed off’ but the Swindon ace is a lot more chipper ahead of tomorrow’s Qatar Masters.

The 39-year-old tees off at the second European Tour event of 2015 on Wednesday morning in Doha after failing to make the cut in the Emirates last Friday when two bogeys in his final two holes contributed to the Broome Manor pro finishing tied 73rd on one under par.

“It’s always hard in your first tournament after seven weeks off but I’ve spent the winter in the sunshine so I can’t complain too much,” said Howell.

“I was scrapping the whole time and my game wasn’t quite there. I made a few small mistakes that you can’t make at my level and if I’d made the cut, I’d have been scrapping even more.

“I was a little bit cheesed off afterwards but I’ve worked on a few small, simple things over the weekend and I’m feeling quite good about this week.

“I’ve had some good results in Qatar in the past – a few top tens and things like that.

“It’s been quite windy here and that’s something that I’ll have to deal with but that kind of thing probably suits my game.

“It’s a course with some fast, grainy greens too. I wouldn’t say that I’ve got high hopes but I’m feeling good about it.”

Howell is due to begin his Qatar campaign at around 8.30am UK time tomorrow.