DAVID HOWELL aborted his comeback to competitive golf on the eve of the Johnnie Walker Championships at Gleneagles but still plans to fly out to America next week.

After playing in the pro-am on Wednesday he decided he was still not fit enough to return to action and pulled out of the tournament for which he was best priced at 14/1 second favourite.

Broome Manor life member, Howell, 30, had been sidelined for seven weeks after tearing an abdominal muscle on the practice ground at the US Open in June as he was preparing to go out for his second round.

"I will be reviewing the situation daily but realise I am not going to be 100 per cent fit, " said Howell.

"At the moment I still plan to fly out to America for the USPGA.

"I have a physiotherapist over there and we will just have to see how it goes.

"Seven days will have gone by and I should be in better shape than I am now.

"But I may have to still wait for the NEC Invitational starting the following week to make my return."

The Swindonian missed the third Major of the year, The Open at St Andrews in mid-July, as a result of the injury and is now doubtful for the fourth and last Major of 2005 next week's US PGA championship in New Jersey.

Howell was due to partner Colin Montgomerie in the opening two rounds at Gleneagles in the Johnnie Walker Championship, but pulled out and was then joined on the sidelines by Monty who quit during his first round with a hand injury.

"I did not feel as good as last weekend," said Howell.

"I played in the pro-am but I did not feel as I thought I would and decided against it.

" It is not the ideal scenario to have to withdraw.

"I am very disappointed not to be fully fit but I will get there eventually.

"It is seven weeks since I suffered the muscle tear. I feared it might be a bad injury and it has turned out to be pretty bad."

Howell was second on the European Order of Merit and in the form of his life after losing play-offs for the British Masters and Irish Open and then coming fourth in the BMW Championship, when the original injury occured warming up for his US Open second round at Pinehurst in mid-June.