IT’S been a decade since Swindon’s David Howell lifted the HSBC Champions trophy in Shanghai.

A lot has happened in that 10 years, including a dramatic drop in form which coincided with problems off the course.

Now the 40-year-old is back amongst the top 100 in the world and looking forward getting underway at the Sheshan International Golf Course on Thursday morning.

“It is always nice to be back at Sheshan as I have won here, and nice to be back at a world championship event,” he said.

“It is amazing how time flies.

“There is a lot of water under the bridge in those 10 years and I was really at the peak of my powers then, then the dip in form, but here we are back again.

“It goes to show that my career is back in much better shape than it was five or six years ago and that is pleasing.”

Howell has a tough challenge if he is to lift the trophy for a second time, with the likes of world number two Jordan Spieth and former world number one Rory McIlroy among the 78-strong field.

However, the Broome Manor pro knows he can fall back on the knowledge that he beat world number one Tiger Woods the last time he lifted the coveted trophy.

“It is a small, strong field with the world’s best players here which are all feelgood factors,” he added.

“I managed to stand up and beat no-one better than the world’s best player on the final day 10 years ago.

“Should I end up in the situation this week then that is certainly something I will be reminding myself of, but there is a lot of work to do before we get there.

“I’ve played my best at times in the company of the world’s best players. That is pleasing and I know I have got that in my locker and hopefully we can get ourselves in a good position with a round to go.”

Howell is set to tee off at 1.10am (GMT) on Thursday morning alongside Greg Chalmers and Daniel Summerhays, and despite his 37th-placed finish at the Turkish Airlines Open last weekend he will take confidence from his five-under par back nine finish on the final day.

“My form has been okay,” said Howell.

“The second half of the year has not been as good as the first half, but now would be a good time to put some really solid rounds together and have a great week.

“Golf is a different game and that last nine holes shows that there is some good stuff in there and hopefully that can feed into this week.

“It is a very different test this week. It is a big course with heavy rough. Last week you could get away with quite a bit, but you can’t do that this week.”

To see how Howell got on in his opening round log on to www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport on Thursday morning