GOLF: DAVID Howell admits it will take a last-minute decision to determine whether he is fit enough for the British Masters at the Belfry.

The Swindon golfer has been sidelined with a back injury since April's US Masters and, with the Masters starting on Thursday, Howell admits it is still touch and go.

He said: "It is still not right. I really am 50/50 for next week. I am going to go up there tonight to see my physio and have some work done on it.

"If it feels like it was yesterday then I won't play but if it improves a little then I probably will.

"I will leave it as late as I can before I make the decision."

Meanwhile, Francesco Molinari was drenched in champagne on the 18th green after deservedly becoming the first home winner of the Italian Open for 26 years at Castello di Tolcinasco.

Molinari carded a brilliant final-round 65 for a 23-under-par total of 265, four shots clear of Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin and Denmark's Anders Hansen.

The 23-year-old, who claimed the first prize of £161,000, was engulfed by family and friends after he holed a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole to spark massive celebrations from the home crowd.

"It's amazing, really unbelievable," said Molinari, who dropped only one shot all week with a three-putt on the fourth hole of his first round.

"I would not have thought about winning so early in my career. I was hoping to give the Italian supporters some joy soon but I was not thinking about this year.'' He began the day tied for the lead with England's Benn Barham, but was never headed from the moment he eagled the par-five first for the second time this week.

Barham never recovered from a double bogey on the second and struggled to a closing 75 which left him down in a share of 16th.

Warrington's Phillip Archer, third in the Spanish Open at San Roque last week, continued his good form with a closing 71 to finish joint sixth alongside Welshman Bradley Dredge (68).