DAVID Howell is hoping to sprinkle some late stardust onto his season when he returns to action at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship today.

Fresh from a spell of punditry work at last weekend’s Ryder Cup, Howell resumes his European Tour campaign at the prestigious Scottish event, with the Swindon star due to tee off at Carnoustie at 9am this morning As in previous years, the 41-year-old will be partnered by actor Hugh Grant as a raft of other celebrities, such as cricket icon Sir Ian Botham, legendary footballer Luis Figo and musician Ronan Keating accompany the Tour’s top players across four days of pro-am competition.

Howell has only managed one top-ten finish so far in 2016 – at the Czech Masters, in August – and finds himself way down in 105th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

The Broome Manor pro has competed in every Alfred Dunhill Links since the championship’s inception in 2001, winning the event in 2013, and Howell believes that the time is now to launch a late charge up the Tour’s overall standings.

“I’ve had a week off but it’s still been busy with the Ryder Cup and a few sponsors’ events, but it’s still been a week away from my own game, so hopefully this is a of bit fresh start and I can have a positive last few weeks of the season,” said the two-time Ryder Cup winner.

“I’ve had an up and down season but there are still a few tournaments left so hopefully I can pick up a few good results and some good prize money to shoot myself up the rankings and get into the final series.

“I’ve had a little bit of a wrist niggle that’s flared up, which is a bit of a worry, but hopefully it doesn’t give me too much pain.

“Ideally, it would be nice if that clears up and goes away as quickly as it flared up.

"This is obviously one that you look forward to but we’re very used to coming here because we’ve done it plenty of times.

“The weather is set fair for the week, which should help me a lot, and if things go to plan, we should be able to post a few good scores here.”