Howell hopes to meet up with old rival Woods at the Masters in Augusta.

DAVID Howell would love to come up against Tiger Woods when he makes his second appearance in the Masters at Augusta this month.

The last time they met, the tall, easy-going former Broome Manor junior from Swindon came out on top. That was in China and he beat Woods in a head-to-head final round to claim victory in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.

In fact they are old adversaries. The rivalry started with the 1995 Walker Cup victory over a Woods-led United States at Royal Porthcawl in their amateur days.

Then Howell had the satisfaction of being on the winning European Ryder Cup team on his debut in 2004. They have met frequently both on the European Tour in America where Howell is playing with greater regularity.

He first teed up alongside Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic in 2004. He admitted he was in awe of the great man when they played together in the third round at Augusta a year ago.

Little wonder, for Woods produced one of the greatest rounds in Masters history on his way to a fourth green jacket. He birdied seven successive holes around the turn in the third round and Howell could only look on in disbelief.

Howell actually led during the second round. He shot a wayward 76 alongside Woods before a last-round 69 took him into a tied for 11th that brought an automatic invitation this year.

Howell blew the chance of a second win in China last month. A poor final round 75 after 64, 63 and 66 had given him the lead cost him the TCL Classic and he settled for a share of seventh.

Despite missing 10 vital weeks in mid-season due to a torn stomach muscle, 30-year-old Howell ended 2005 as Europe's second highest ranked golfer in 13th place on the world ranking.

In June he lost back to back play-off defeats but everything came together in August when he won the BMW International Open before opening the 2006 season with his China success.

His first professional victory came when he won the Australian PGA Championship by seven strokes in November 1998, three months before his maiden European Tour in the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic.