The following events took place over 24 hours on Monday the 25th and Tuesday the 26th of February 2013 in the ISM offices, Cheshire, England and Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3 starting at 13.00 UAE time. The characters are real. The next 24 hours will be the longest of David Howell’s life….

1300 UAE time: 23hrs 59 mins remaining…

I queue briefly behind David Horsey who took 80 Dirhams away from Freddie’s’ school fund yesterday when he got lucky over nine holes, before deciding to save a few minutes by changing queues. It worked, a quick check-in followed by a gentle stroll towards immigration.

Horse, as he is known on tour, headed to the normal immigration line whereas I had the advantage of... MORE »

I have been loath to write about the first event of the year, the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship, so frustrating was my finish. For those of you who missed it, I was on fire on Sunday to get myself into a winning position after 12 holes only for it all to fall away in an instant with a shocker on the 13th green.

Four putts from five feet up the hill - it's quite incredible what this game can throw in your face sometimes. I made a poor stroke on a two-footer down the hill on lightning fast greens. What can you do? Well what I did was knuckle down and finish with five pars for sixth place, a good week and... MORE »

Well my 17th season has gone by in a flash. Where on earth does the time go, I wonder? Can it really be that time of year where a self-appraisal is required? Seeing as I am sitting on a flight heading to Durban for the first event of my 18th season then it must be. So let’s see if I can remember enough key facts from the year gone by for an honest assessment.

2012 AGENDA

1. Turn career path around from one heading towards oblivion - Tick

2. Change personal status from married to married with kid - Tick

3. Create home atmosphere suitable for sustainable family life - Tick

4. Play in DP World Tour Championship in Dubai - Cross

5. Win 6th worldwide professional golf tournament - Cross

6. Turn... MORE »

Seeing as I have not written a blog for a couple of weeks I thought I would give you a chance to read somebody else's this week, Ryder cup captain Davis love lll after his Ryder Cup experience. Only one word I can use, CLASS.

I'll take the blame for the U.S.'s stunning loss in the Ryder Cup, but it's still the highlight of my career

By 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III | Published: Monday, October 01, 2012 | 07:34:16 PM | Courtesy of www.golf.com

I should be tired, but I'm not. We lost the Ryder Cup about six hours ago, and now I'm at the team hotel, a Westin in suburban Chicago, trying to make sense of what... MORE »

So I am sitting on a plane flying to Perth after a five-hour stop over in Dubai where I managed to pop home to see the wife and Freddie for a couple of hours.

They have decamped to Dubai for the winter and I will join them after I have stopped chasing my tail around the globe trying to qualify for the Dubai World Championship.

I thought I was certain to make the top 60 after my great result in France back in June,  but as it turns out  I have not managed to back that up with any great finishes and have just trodden water in the rankings.

Last week in Portugal sums it up. I finished 37th, middle of the pack... MORE »