DAVID Howell has cited his family as a motivational tool to reinvigorate his stagnated golfing career as he looks to recover from the 2018 European Tour.

The 43-year-old says his three children provide him with the will power to continue to pursue exploits on golf’s top table.

Injuries have halted any potential progress for Howell as he has suffered with wrist, back, foot and shoulder problems in recent years.

Despite languishing on the leaderboard for the majority of the Tour, the two-time Ryder Cup winner says his love for the game remains.

Some people have suggested that retirement could be a possibility for the golfer, however, speaking to the Advertiser, he said he hasn’t considered giving up the game just yet.

“I have three small boys who haven’t seen me play particularly well yet, so there is a part of me who’d love for them to be proud of their dad on the TV or if they were there,” said Howell.

“Whether they could see me as a winner, a champion, or just doing something in front of a lot of people, that is a motivator.

“I have three kids to put through school, to provide for and we have a long life ahead of us for the family as well.

“The pot of gold is still there. If you play well, there are riches to be won, so I still have my eye on that.

“I’m certainly not at the point where I’ve had enough. A good friend of mine, Anthony Wall, he retired pretty quickly because he'd had enough of his aches and pains.

“I’m not quite there yet, but I’m sure if I had another two years of injuries and poor golf, firstly, my options would be gone and I’d drop off the tour.

“So, it’ll either come that way, or I’ll get to a point where I say 'sod it'. But that is not how I’m thinking at the moment.

“I’m not naïve enough to think that couldn’t happen, but I still have the energy to fight for it. I still love playing golf.

“I just don’t like playing bad golf, but I still have it in me to make that switch.”

While admitting that he still loves the game, Howell, who first appeared on the Tour in 1994, says while the rewards for his efforts are aplenty, he claims the flip side of doing well can be a cruel thing to experience.

“The galleries are applauding you and that is lovely, it always has been, but when you’re traipsing round the world missing the cut, golf is a soul-destroying business," said Howell.

"It’s no fun hitting poor shots, struggling and battling week, in week out. You need the good moments to boost you, and there weren’t many of them in 2018.

“Ultimately, do I still love it? I do. Do I love it when I am playing so badly? No, it is no fun at all.

“When you’re not doing it as well as you know you can, it is hard. At least doing it to an acceptable level is OK, but if you’re messing everything up, it’s stressful and no different to any other job.

“As a golfer, the only difference is you’re on the other side of the world and you can’t get home quickly.

“It’s a double-edged sword this career. When it is going well, it is an absolute privilege, but it is very hard graft when it isn’t.”