Howell sticking to the fairways

One of Britain's brightest golf prospects returns to the European tour this week vowing to think carefully when he next hears the cry: "Anyone for tennis?"

David Howell, the 23-year-old from Swindon, is still recovering from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered on a court near his home nearly two months ago.

"I was playing with a mate and had an awkward fall on my knee but I knew straightaway I had done something to my ankle," said Howell.

"I thought at first I had broken it and I was in hospital all day. I was in agony.

"Thankfully, an x-ray showed there was no break, and I then started daily treatment from the Swindon Town physiotherapist.

"I was lucky in one respect. It happened just when I was starting a month off and I think the enforced rest has probably done me some good.

"Mentally, I'm ready to go again - but I would say the ankle is still only about 90%."

Howell, whose first professional win came in spectacular style in November when he took the Australian PGA crown by seven strokes, had hoped to return in South Africa three weeks ago but knew he needed more time off.

Instead his comeback is in the £468,000 Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open at Saunjana near Kuala Lumpur, where stablemates Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke - third and second on last season's European Order of Merit - are the star attractions.

Howell's victory in Sydney did perhaps not get the attention it deserved. But with good reason.

On the very same day Westwood won for the second time in eight days in Japan, while in New Zealand Nick Faldo and David Carter won the World Cup for England for the first time, Britain and Ireland's amateurs won the world team title in Chile and Laura Davies won in Las Vegas.

Howell, who holed the winning putt in the 1995 Walker Cup match against an American side featuring Tiger Woods, has still to taste success on the European tour.

But he has been making steady progress - 54th on the money list three years ago, 47th in 1997 and 32nd last season.

"I think top 15 is a sensible goal for me this year," he said.

Being under the same management as Westwood and Clarke has brought spin-offs for him, and he has also seen at close hand what it takes to reach their level.

Now, ankle permitting, he hopes to take the next steps towards joining them.

Westwood and Clarke also make their 1999 debuts this week - and Westwood is already a winner, having partnered the King of Malaysia to victory in the curtain-raising pro-am.

"We had a great time out there," said the Worksop star.

"The King enjoyed himself and he was recalling how he followed me every step of the way on the final day of the tournament last year."

Westwood, winner in 1997, lost a play-off last February to Las Vegas-based Englishman Ed Fryatt.

King Tuanka Jaafar was not the only member of the Malaysian Royal Family taking part.

Queen Tuanka Najihah and Princess Puteri Jawahir partnered Scotland's Andrew Coltart - Westwood's brother-in-law following his marriage to Coltart's sister Laurae - and Clarke played with Prince Tuanka Naquddin.