DAVID Howell hopes injury and poor form are now behind him as he prepares to take part in the Paul Lawrie Match Play.

The Swindon ace has been suffering with a foot injury since the turn of the year but now believes he has turned a corner.

“It’s not a normal foot yet but it is improving and I feel like I am out of the woods now, about a month ago I was still very concerned about it,'' the Broome Manor pro said “It has taken its time but I am feeling much better, I can put in a normal day’s work on the hole and that’s important.”

The 41-year-old was facing native Richie Ramsey when he teed off in North Berwick, Scotland at 10.05 this morning.

“I have Richie Ramsey, a Scottish player so there will be lots of support for him I am sure. I think he practices in a place nearby here so he will know the course very well so that is a downside “But up the upside I’ve performed pretty nicely in the last couple of tournaments I have played in.”

Match play has a different format to the rest of the golfing calendar and works on a knock out basis for each match with only the winner progressing Last year, Howell came third in the event and is hoping he can produce a similar performance this time around.

“I really enjoy Match Play so I’m really looking forward to the challenge, it’s a very different week this week as it is match play, it’s do or die every round,'' he added.

“It’s just a completely different feel, playing out and just trying to win each hole there is an immediacy, you want to get off to a good start and you want to do well.

“I had a nice week in the tournament last year when I got to the semi final. I’m feeling pretty confident I can go out and win that first round match.”

The competition also presents the two-time Ryder Cup winner with the chance to build on a 22nd place finish in The Open. “My goal for the rest of the season is obviously to move up the rest of the rankings, I’ve had a strange year with injury scuppering things,” he said.

“The time is now to crack on with some good performances between now and the end of the season, that is the plan.”