It really can be tough at the top

Interview with order of merit leader David HowellAt one time this season, when David Howell could do no wrong, the affable Englishman put his hand up to make himself "a rock" for others to lean on come the Ryder Cup match at The K Club.

These days, although his place on the team is guaranteed, the European Tour order of merit leader is on rather shakier ground after a summer of injuries and indifferent form that leaves him without a tournament win in over three months.

Is he worried? Not at all, it seems. In many ways, it is like a return to the form he brought to his Ryder Cup debut in Oakland Hills two years ago, where, paired with Paul Casey in the second morning's fourballs, Howell produced a shot on the 17th hole that was subsequently selected as the European Tour's "shot of the year".

Recalling it here yesterday, Howell allowed himself a little chuckle, as the memory emphasised the fickleness of golf and how quickly fortunes change.

Going into that match in Detroit, Howell hadn't been enjoying the best of form. Like now, his results lacked consistency.

"I was playing poorly going in, and I ended up duffing a six-iron (on the 17th) that was shot of the year and I turned out to be everybody's hero. So that little piece of history shows me that it's matchplay, it's different."

Howell, it must be said, hasn't enjoyed much luck with injuries.

Last season, he missed 10 weeks in the middle of the year after tearing an abdominal muscle when practising on the range prior to the second round of the US Open at Pinehurst with Vijay Singh's weighty training device, similar to an iron bar. Then, at the US PGA a fortnight ago, he picked up a neck-cum-shoulder injury, and also sustained a bizarre knee injury there while lining up a putt during the second round.

"As I got up, I just strained a muscle to the left of my kneecap," he said. "It's just getting more ridiculous as the years go on now, getting injured lining up a putt. I don't think I should plan a Seniors Tour career, that's for sure.

"But I am not worried about my health. If I'm not injured once every six weeks something is wrong, and I've probably got this one out of the way just a couple of weeks before the Ryder Cup. I think I'll be fully fit by then and hopefully, you know, in good form as well."

Although he has led the European Tour's money list since he won the season-opening HSBC Champions Tournament in China late last year, when he fended off Tiger Woods down the stretch, Howell's form since winning the BMW Championship at Wentworth in May has left a lot to be desired: T-16th, MC, T-35th, MC, MC, 67th, T-59th.

"I've had a strange year, compared to last year when I was unbelievably consistent," admitted Howell, the defending champion. "I've won two big tournaments, so it is going to be a great year no matter what happens, but obviously I'd have liked to couple that with being consistent. I'm working hard, trying to get my swing back on track, but I've got to hold my hands up and say I haven't played great for the past two or three months. It's been very frustrating, it's been quite a tough period and a little bit of a shock as well. It certainly brings you back down to earth, as we know this game always does."

Perhaps a return to a happy hunting ground will regenerate his season. With an eye ahead to The K Club, Howell remarked: "The Ryder Cup is not about personal achievement, and you do whatever has to be done for the team to win. So anybody who is not playing great is always happy to put their hands up and sit a match out.

"If I'm in that situation, I'll be happy to do it. But I'm not planning to be in that situation."