Bonus finish pushes Howell into contention again

David Howell, beaten in a play-off the last two weeks, has given himself the chance to make it third time lucky tomorrow – after a spectacular eagle-eagle burst in the BMW Championship at windy Wentworth.

With what he described as “a massive bonus” the 29-year-old from Swindon chipped in for the second day running on the 571-yard 17th and then hit a glorious three wood to six feet at the 531-yard last.

Only in 30th place after two rounds, Howell now goes into the final 18 holes of the European Tour’s flagship event in a tie for third place with Ryder Cup team-mate Paul McGinley. They are just two behind joint leaders Angel Cabrera and Peter Hedblom.

Padraig Harrington, who resumed in joint fourth place, also suffered. He played the first 15 holes in five over, but did at least birdie the last three to get back into ninth spot. He is now six behind, though.

Fellow Dubliner McGinley set off bogey-birdie-bogey and then parred the next 14 holes before a fine chip on the last rescued a 72.

Runner-up to Scott Drummond last year and Andrew Oldcorn in 2001, Cabrera matched Howell’s 66, while Swede Hedblom, three clear overnight, came back from early problems to birdie two of the last three for a 73 and so joined the Argentinian on the 10-under-par total of 206.

While describing his round as “fantastic”, however, Howell did not spend the whole of it smiling.

He is a stable-mate of Darren Clarke and when he heard on the course the Ulsterman, lying joint 11th at halfway, had not teed off he knew the reason why.

Clarke’s wife Heather was told last November her cancer had returned and after undergoing chemotherapy treatment earlier this year she was taken into hospital on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old Ulsterman played the first two rounds and stood four under par, but then scratched in order to be with her as she underwent what a statement from his management company called “a procedure”.

Howell made his move while the blustery conditions created real headaches for others, world number three Ernie Els slumping to a 75 and both Luke Donald and Miguel Angel Jimenez closing with triple-bogey eights as they shot 74 and 76 respectively.

Howell lost on the second extra hole to Thomas Bjorn at the British Masters two weeks ago and then last Sunday tied for the Irish Open with Stephen Dodd, who then took the title with a birdie at the first hole of sudden death.

The two second places have earned Howell nearly €450,000.

Still without a victory since the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic, he has had no fewer than 35 top-10 finishes since then.

Asked if he would take another play-off if offered he replied: “Yes – I haven’t got a problem with play-offs.

“The longer I don’t win one (he also lost out in a shoot-out for the 2001 British Masters) the more my chances increase of winning the next one.

“A play-off in the PGA (as it used to be called) would be fantastic. Obviously I would rather win it outright, but being two under after 36 holes if you offered me a play-off after 72 I’d snap your hand off.”

He has been followed by what he calls “rent-a-crowd”, adding: “I don’t know how many people are up from Swindon, but I think in general people are feeling sorry for me in some way.

“Not that they should, but I’m getting a lot of support, which is obviously very nice.

“They shouldn’t be sorry for me. Things are going great – I’ve had the third and fourth best weeks of my golfing career the last two weeks.”

Howell’s other professional victory came in the 1998 Australian PGA Championship.

Colin Montgomerie described the course as resembling a “war zone” and a 73 was good enough to lift him from 55th to 37th.

But he is still a long way from the top-10 finish he probably requires to earn an exemption into next month’s US Open.

The 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath on June 6 looms large.