European Number One David Howell will need to “think outside the box” in his quest to challenge for The 135th Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, which starts tomorrow.
In assessing the tough conditions of the fast, running course at Hoylake after his final practice session before the season’s third Major gets underway, Howell said: “I hit a drive today down the 17th that went about 370 yards past the bunker that I didn’t even contemplate even being in play, and that’s one of the tricky things when the course gets that firm.
“It’s very hard to think outside the box, the way we normally think. You can hit three irons 290 yards, which is just hard to get your head round basically. I guess as the week goes on you learn each day it and it becomes easier to remember that’s what going to happen.
“It’s interesting, interesting to play and going to be very interesting to watch.”
Howell will be hoping to benefit from some knowledge gleaned from playing the Amateur Championship at Hoylake 11 years ago and also a number of company days in recent years.
“I’ve been here a little bit more than most guys.
“But I certainly haven’t seen the course play like this, so that’s all really by the by. It’s a new challenge for everybody.”
While Howell is widely tipped as one of the favourites this week following his rise up the World Rankings to World Number Ten, his first goal is to improve on his best previous performance on joint 42nd. He has also not made the cut since 1999 and last year he was sidelined through injury.
“I’ve been signing my page in the official guide and it’s a case of missed cut, missed cut, missed cut, missed cut and did not play in the last five Opens. So I would love to play well this week.
“I am going to go out and do my best. And if I can have a great finish then fantastic. First thing I have got to do is improve my best finish. Hopefully we can do that. Anything better than that is a bonus.”
Howell, however, has grown into a much better golfer than two or three years ago.
“I’d certainly be disappointed if my career ended without having a good run at this Championship. Obviously no better time to start than this week. Good form, I’m playing the best golf of my life in general at the moment. I’d be very disappointed if I came away this week with another MC next to my name or something in the 40s. I have better expectations than that.”
