David Howell

On Sunday England’s David Howell broke a seven-year winning drought when he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, held at St Andrews. This week’s player profile takes a look at Howell’s recent career as he returns to winning ways on the European Tour. 
 
38-year-old Howell hails from Swindon in Wiltshire, England. His interest in golf was sparked during his teens, and by the age of twenty he had honed his skills sufficiently to make a professional debut, basing himself at his home course, the Broome Manor Golf Club. 
 
Howell spent the first few years of his professional career improving his game as he carded several top 20 finishes in Europe. The young golfer weathered the storm and emerged victorious in the 1998 season when he won the Australian PGA Championship. Following his first win, Howell became a regular contender on the European Tour and won again the following season at the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic. 
 
Howell’s career has been marked by winning streaks and plateaus. Although it would be six years before his next win after Dubai, the Englishman continued to refine his game – his next winning streak occurred in 2005 when he won the BMW International Open and the HSBC Champions Tournament. 
 
The following year, Howell lifted the trophy at the 2006 BMW Championship. These victories propelled Howell to 13th in the World Golf Rankings in 2006 - a career record. 
 
During the past seven years, Howell found himself in a second plateau. His victory on Sunday at the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship marks another victory at an important event for the Briton, who may be on the verge of another winning streak as he approaches his 40s. 
 
Howell’s fans and his competitors should take note of Sunday’s performance, which may be a sign of things to come for this talented golfer.