SWINDON golfer David Howell makes his return to action this week at a tournament that has served him well in recent years – the Czech Masters.

Howell finished in a tie for third back in 2016, while also recording a top-40 finish in last season’s event.

Now making his return to the sport after a month off due to missing out on qualification for The Open, Howell’s enforced break came at a good time by the 43-year-old’s own admissions as his persistent wrist injury started to flare up.

And although the ailment has not allowed Howell to practice at full tilt upon his return, the Broome Manor man is confident the Prague course will help him hit the ground running in the second half of the 2019 European Tour season.

Howell said: “I really like this venue. I finished third two or three years ago, and I can see my way around this course.

“There are some nice greens, wide fairways and the par fives are all lay-ups for me, which gives me a wedge in to try and make my birdies.

“I like to come here because I can see my way around this course, so hopefully that will stand me in good stead for the week.”

Howell has endured a difficult first half of the season, making just two cuts in 14 European Tour events.

The two-time Ryder Cup winner admits he is not expecting ‘miracles’ once his campaign resumes, and simply wants a return to the consistently high-quality golf he knows he is capable of producing.

Howell said: “In an ideal world, if I could play well enough to finish in the top 115 and guarantee my Tour card for next season, that would be a really pleasing effort from this point, but I’ve got my ‘joker’ year in the bank for next year.

“My expectations and hopes are simply to play a bit better, make some cuts, get some top-10 finishes in there and start to play some of the golf that I’m used to and that I expect from myself.

“I haven’t done it so far this season for a number of reasons. I’m at a point now where I’m just trying to build the confidence for next season, to be honest.

“That might sound like fairly low expectations, but ultimately it’s been a really tough year and a half.

“I’m not expecting miracles, but my scoring has been trending in the right direction over the past few tournaments, so that’s where I’m at and that’s the reality of it.”

Howell is due to get his first round under way at 7.45am BST today.