Ryder Cup star Howell is a hit at club dinner
FROM being dropped as a Ryder Cup foursomes partner by one of the biggest names in golf, to how he beat Tiger Woods to win a tournament twice, writes Andrew Griffin.
They were the highlights of European Tour winner David Howell’s talk when he was guest of honour at North Hants Golf Club’s annual Hampshire Hog dinner.
Members at the Fleet club – where Justin Rose made a name for himself as a record-breaking teenage amateur international – roared with laughter as the Swindon-raised Ryder Cup winner told a number of hilarious stories from a stellar career playing golf around the world.
Howell, who is 46 years old, now splits his time between the Sky TV commentary team and playing on the European Tour.
At his peak he was ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings and claimed seven victories including the very first HSBC Championship in Shanghai, beating Tiger Woods in the final group. In fact Howell has a very strong track record against Tiger, also beating him on his way to claiming the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic.
The former British Boys Amateur Champion revealed he deliberately turned away every time Tiger hit a shot so he would not be overawed by the then World No. 1’s incredible shot-making.
In 2006, Howell won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the biggest prize on the European Tour, and also won the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews in 2013, playing with actor Hugh Grant in the pro-celebrity event.
Howell told the story – including a very telling impersonation of Colin Montgomery – about how the seventime European No. 1 had pushed Ian Woosnam to partner him with Howell at the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland.
But after a terrible first day’s practice session at the K Club, Howell found himself playing with rookie Henrik Stenson in the foursomes, with Monty playing with vastly more experienced Lee Westwood.
Howell said: “Monty came up to me outside the locker room after the first team meeting and told me he had asked Ian Woosnam to be paired with me. Monty said: ‘I told Ian that you were my man, the way you have been playing this season.’
“But we went out and I was hitting it all over the place,” laughed the Swindon-raised golfer. “The next time I saw Monty was on the plane home on the Monday.”
Howell told a number of stories about how even when he was at the peak of his game, he would find himself struggling with his long game, including during the 2005 Masters when he headed off to play golf after his second round with friends from Swindon, who had followed him to Augusta.
Howell said: “I was playing terribly – even though I was in the top 20 and course conditions were very difficult – and asked my manager to find my somewhere to play locally
“By the time we left the course I was up to 10th. My caddie Nick Mumford, who I used to play golf for Wiltshire with, ended up in the pro shop at a pay-and-play course.
“I was not even bothered about getting a courtesy round, and was trying to pay in the shop.
“Realising I was British, the pro asked what I was doing in Augusta, and I said I was playing in a golf tournament.
“He looked a bit puzzled and said, what the Masters? – just as a picture of me came up on the TV, showing that I was now up to third on the leaderboard.
“Quite a few people started to notice me – I had my name on my bag – but one guy saw me hit a shot and said, ‘That’s the best shot I have seen hit by a six-handicapper!’
“My mates thought it was hilarious to see me desperately trying to sort out my swing in front of these guys just out playing golf at the cheapest course in Augusta, while I had a chance to win the Green Jacket.”
Howell’s bid was undone by a third round 76 while Tiger Woods would famously go on to win his first Major in three years, while Howell would end up in 11th – his best finish in three attempts.
Injuries began to take their toll and Howell would have to wait seven years after his Wentworth win before his victory at St Andrews, his last on the European Tour.
Dinner organiser David Owens said: “We have had a number of big names from the world of golf speak at the Hampshire Hog dinner, including the late BBC commentator Peter Alliss.
“David Howell answered a number of questions from our members and his Tour tales were very funny. It’s easy to see why he is in demand to commentate for Sky when he is not playing.”