SWINDON’S David Howell has joined an illustrious group of golfers after starting his 700th professional event last week.

Only two other professional players have ever made it to the landmark – Spain’s Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance – and Howell sits just 17 starts short of Jiménez’s all-time appearance record.

The 47-year-old teed it up at the Cazoo Open on the DP World Tour last week, going on to finish in a tie for 25th – his best result of the season.

Discussing the outstanding achievement and enjoying the company of one of his childhood heroes, Howell said: “It’s quite amazing, and nice company to keep with Sam and Miguel being the only other two who have done it.

“As I said to someone else the other day, Sam was a generation before me and really helped inspire me to try out the game.

“When I was at Broome Manor during my teenage years, I was watching Sam in Ryder Cups. And in some way, shape, or form, I was trying to emulate a career like his.

“So to sit alongside him in the 700 club is a lovely thing.”

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Howell made his DP World Tour debut at the 1994 Benson and Hedges International Open, and the following 28 years and 698 appearances have seen some incredible moments including a win on the Tour’s flagship event – the BMW PGA Championship – in 2006.

One of Swindon’s greatest ever sportsmen has claimed four other wins and played on two victorious European Ryder Cup teams as well.

The 47-year-old admitted he could never have dreamed of such longevity when he started out.

Howell said: “It was never a goal, so it’s a strange one. At no point in my career have I said: “I want to play this many times.”

“I wish I’d play less often but better! That would have been more ideal, but that’s just the way my career has gone.

“I started young, and I’ve always played a lot. I had a few years there where I played a little less when I was rose to the top 10 in the world.

“But over the last few years, given the way it’s gone, I’ve just had to keep playing, and trying to keep my ranking.

“I’ve been a heavy user of the European and DP World Tour for 20-something years, and there we are – 700 times I’ve played.”

Howell is scheduled to make his 701st professional start at the Czech Masters on August 18.