Briton Howell shocked by alarming dip in form

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By Tony Jimenez

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's David Howell, who held off world number one Tiger Woods to win the HSBC Champions title in China in 2005, said he was shocked by his nosedive in form this year.

The 32-year-old Englishman was plagued by injury during the 2006-07 European Tour season and finished down in 142nd place on the order of merit, with earnings of 164,716 euros ($243,400) from 17 appearances.

"I had shoulder problems after the 2006 Ryder Cup and this year it has been mainly injuries to my lower back," Howell said in a news release on Tuesday.

"It has been quite a shock to have my best year followed directly by my worst year," added Howell in reference to his third-place finish on the 2005-06 tour.

Howell, who has won four times on the European circuit, is hoping to shrug off his miserable year by winning the inaugural $500,000 Vietnam Masters which starts on Thursday.

"It is my last tournament of the year and it would definitely be nice to feel the buzz of winning a golf tournament again," he said.

"That's the great thing about golf. You never know what is around the corner."

Howell is joined at the Hanoi Phoenix Golf Resort by Ryder Cup team mate Paul McGinley, who has also been below his best this year.

The 40-year-old Irishman, who won the 2005 Volvo Masters and was runner-up in the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth the same year, ended the 2006-07 campaign in 74th position on the order of merit.

McGinley said the biggest threat this week would come from the Asian Tour contingent.

"The standard of play in Asia is getting stronger and stronger every year," he said.

"Results have shown how well the Asians are able to compete on the international stage these days."

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