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Merit prize forces Howell through pain barrier

05/10/2006

David Howell admits he is having to play through the pain barrier as he seeks to overtake Paul Casey and claim this season's European Order of Merit.

The 31-year-old is suffering from a long-running shoulder injury but he is hopeful he can put the problem aside for this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Howell is currently £80,000 behind fellow English star and Ryder Cup team-mate Casey in the money list although there is a first prize of £427,000 available this week and a similar incentive at the season-ending Volvo Masters.

"It's the same problem I've had for a while and it came back on Sunday with a bit of a vengeance and I haven't hit a shot since," Howell, who led the Order until Casey won the World Matchplay title at Wentworth before the Ryder Cup, said of his injury.

"I had a company day on Monday that I had to pull out of and if it wasn't for the Order of Merit it's fair to say I would not be playing. It's very frustrating and stressful."

He added: "I'm obviously keen to overtake Paul and I'm sure he's as keen to stay in front. I need to play well in the two events I have left. It's doable but he can make it very difficult for me by playing well himself.

"Being number one all year, it would be disappointing not to finish it off. If I don't win it would still be a great year but tinged with disappointment."

Casey meanwhile is refusing to underestimate the task at hand, saying: "I feel lucky to be ahead. I think if David had been healthy all year, he'd probably be so far ahead that it would be all over by now. He's played great golf this year and won the two biggest events on the European Tour rather than majors or world golf events.

"It would be very special if I were to win, a great honour. Part of me will be pinching myself to say, 'Am I really number one?' But there is a lot of golf to be played and a lot of great golfers snapping at my heels. It would be very, very special and I'd dearly love it to happen but I can't control what the others do."

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