DAVID Howell believes the light at the end of the tunnel is growing ever brighter following his fourth top-10 finish of 2008.

The Swindonian produced some of his best golf of the year to finish tied third at the Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland, three shots behind France’s Gregory Havret and just two adrift of Graeme Storm.

The man from Broome Manor, pictured, has suffered more than his share of set-backs in the last 18 months, with niggling back and wrist injuries compounding a drastic downturn in form.

But after carding top-10 finishes in Qatar, Portugal, at the Open Championship and now at Gleneagles, Howell insists things are finally looking up.

“We keep talking about momentum, but then that’s what golf is all about,” Howell told the Advertiser.

“The guy who plays the best over four rounds is the one who takes home the trophy.

“I didn’t make the best start on Thursday, but then I was really pleased with how I played on Friday and over the weekend.

“To shoot three consecutive under-par rounds really put me in the mix, and on another day I could have gone even lower.”

Analysing Sunday’s final round, Howell believes he might have pushed Havret even closer had his putting been immaculate, as it had been the previous two days.

Prior to the event Howell admitted he had neglected his short game in recent weeks, but he walked away from Gleneagles with no regrets.

“I missed a five footer at the second for birdie and those are the kind of ones you have to sink when you start the day two or three shots back,” he said.

“I hit a bad drive at seven which also cost me a shot, and at that point I had probably left myself too much to do.

“I hit a great shot into 15, which was playing one of the toughest holes all week, but then I missed the putt.

“But I putted great all week so I’m not going to beat myself up about it just because I let a few slip by on Sunday. You can’t hole them all.”