GOLF: Howell homes in

9:06am Thursday 15th May 2008

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IRELAND is the latest stop for the European Tour express today, but for Swindon star David Howell all tracks lead to Wentworth and next week's PGA Championship.

Howell tees up at the Irish Open this morning in desperate need of a pick-me-up following his latest missed cut in Shanghai three weeks ago.

But while he is wandering the fairways and greens of Adare Manor in picturesque County Limerick this weekend, Howell will be mentally preparing himself for his latest return to Blighty.

The Swindon-born star now resides at Virginia Water in Surrey, and with the Wentworth course just a pitching wedge away, Howell is desperate for a good performance on home turf'.

"I have got four tournaments in four weeks and my first concern is to try and make all four cuts," said Howell, who teed off at 7.50am this morning alongside Richard Finch and three-time winner Colin Montgomerie.

"It would be nice to have a couple of good finishes and to put myself in the mix over the weekend in Ireland.

"That would be great with the PGA Championship coming up. That's the one tournament I really want to focus on.

"I'm not really in a position to think about peaking for it, but one of the reasons for pulling out of the Italian Open last week was to try and avoid being too jaded.

"Hopefully I will still be fresh and feeling good about my game when it comes around."

Before he can even contemplate plotting the best route around Wentworth though, Howell has the small matter of today's tournament to occupy himself with.

Having slipped to number 235 in the world rankings and with selection for the Ryder Cup team still some way over the horizon, the 32-year-old knows he must turn things around soon.

A second place finish in Portugal last month served as a timely reminder that Howell can still mix it with the best - but he knows there is still plenty of work to do.

"Obviously the great thing about Portugal was that it showed I still have what it takes to win a tournament," said Howell.

"I may have lost the play-off, but I took great satisfaction from knowing that nobody beat me over 72 holes.

"I've not had a lot of time to practice with my new coach, Jamie Gough since Portugal and since then things have gone downhill.

"But he will be around on Tour for the next three weeks so hopefully another pair of eyes will make all the difference."

Log onto the Advertiser website today to follow progress of Howell's opening round at the Irish Open.