Injury won't hit my Ryder plans - Howell
David Howell has dismissed fears he might not be able to play a full part in next week’s Ryder Cup despite another injury setback.
Howell, who faces team-mate Colin Montgomerie in the first round of the HSBC World Match Play championship at Wentworth tomorrow, has had his season disrupted by various aches and pains.
“I woke up Tuesday last week and my back and neck were in tatters really,” said the European Order of Merit leader.
Howell was with five members of the European side for a day’s practice at the K Club and added: “I probably shouldn’t have played and was a bit frustrated.
“I had a couple of sessions with my physio and it started to ease off a bit, but I had a pro-am on Friday which I withdrew from.
“It really wasn’t great, but I’m feeling better all the time now. It seems like I need a week to get my body back up and running.
“Hopefully I’ll be in good shape for this weekend.”
Asked if there was any danger he might have be rested from at least one of the sessions at the K Club – there are fourballs and foursomes on the first two days - Howell replied without hesitation. “No. Positive.”
Montgomerie has already said he would rather not be confronting someone he could be partnering in a week’s time against the Americans.
When asked how he would be approaching the match Howell answered: “We’re probably not going to give each other daggers on the first tee obviously.
“We’re going to go out and compete as well as we can. I’ve got to know Colin better and better and we get on very well.
“We’re just two competitors out there trying to beat each other and we’ll be trying to do it in a very friendly manner.
“There’s probably not going to be any gamesmanship going on – we’ll let our games do the talking and see who comes out on top.
“Colin obviously has a great history here at Wentworth (three Volvo PGA titles and the Match Play in 1999), but I have some decent recent history myself.”
He is returning this week to the course where he won the BMW Championship by five shots in May.
Howell is trying for the same double therefore that the Scot achieved seven years ago – and with a £1million on offer to the winner now it is a big week in anybody’s language.
“Obviously the BMW Championship is the biggest win of my career so far, but this has got a fantastic tradition as well. You look at the roll call of the winners over the years there’s some massive names.
“Certainly David Howell on the bottom of them would be very nice.”
Montgomerie added: “Any even with the word ’world’ in front of it means something.
“David’s improved dramatically in the last three years, but I plan to stop him doing the same double I achieved. When I drive in here I feel one-up somehow.”
