DAVID Howell hopes a mid-season break from tournament golf will do wonders for his game.

Howell is due to play at the European Open in Germany this week, with the action getting under way on Thursday, fresh off a week’s rest.

Swindon star Howell was only a keen observer for last week’s Open Championship, with the 43-year-old part of the Sky Sports commentary team at Carnoustie.

Following the European Open, Howell will again take time away from competitive action for next week’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational and the subsequent US PGA Championship after that.

Having had to cope with a recent shoulder injury, Howell believes a lighter schedule will do some good.

“I am entered for the European Open, but it is one week in four tournament golf-wise,” said Howell.

“It is a bit of time to reassess. I have a couple of ideas about what needs to change a little bit, so that is something to go away and work on.

“I need a little break and some fresh impetus to hopefully come back for a nice run-in towards the end of the season.”

Howell missed the cut at his last tournament, the Scottish Open, a fortnight ago, which made it three events in a row that the Broome Manor man had failed to qualify for the weekend on the European Tour.

Although disappointed with recent results, Howell is sure better fortunes are around the corner.

“It doesn’t take much to turn it around, I am still competing in the middle of the pack,” said Howell.

“I am missing cuts but it is not horrendous. I haven’t got to improve much to pop results on the board.

“This run has reminded me that I don’t need to do anything drastic, but I do need to change a little bit.

“If I can come back for that next run of events having tweaked the swing so my long stuff is more consistent, then hopefully I can push on.

“I need to be using my putter and my chipping skills to be shooting six-under, but I am having to use those to scramble one-over, and that is clearly not good enough.”