Howell hopes Dunhill win opens door to Ryder Cup

David Howell hopes his first European Tour victory in seven years can inspire him to the best years of his career, including a third Ryder Cup appearance in 2014.

Howell beat American Peter Uihlein on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday after the pair had finished tied on 23 under par.

The 38-year-old Englishman was ranked as high as ninth in the world in June 2006, shortly after winning the PGA Championship at Wentworth, but six years later was down in 367th after a number of injuries and loss of form.