GOLF: David Howell will line up at the BMW Championship after passing his own MOT.

Swindon's European Order of Merit leader pulled out of the rain-hit Nissan Open in Ireland to give his troublesome back injury a rest.

But after further intensive treatment, Howell has declared himself fit to tee off in the £3million event at Wentworth in which he finished fourth last year.

Speaking from the physio's table, Howell said: "I'm feeling a bit better. It's still not perfect, not 100 per cent but it is up in the 90s now and I'll be going to Wentworth."

Howell's choice to skip the trip to Ireland was wise as the event spilled over to a fifth day before Thomas Bjorn eventually take the title.

"In retrospect I think I made the right decision not to go to Ireland," he said.

"It all depends on how you play of course, but it certainly didn't look like the nicest place to be.

"It's worked out how I wanted. I didn't feel I was ready to play three tournaments in three weeks so I needed to take a break and I wanted to be fit for the BMW because it's a big event.

"I've not got any expectations going into it. I'm still more worried about my body than my golf at this stage, but that will probably change when I step up to the tee."

The 30-year-old's inactivity last weekend has seen him slip two places to 17th in the latest world rankings.

Paul Casey's runner-up finish has lifted him back into the top 50 just a week before the cut-off point for next month's US Open at Winged Foot.

Casey goes to 42nd in the new rankings, while winner Bjorn who staged an amazing recovery after an opening round of 78 moves from 33rd to 30th.

Lee Westwood and Paul Broadhurst, 52nd and 55th respectively, will try to claim a place in the top 50 at the BMW Championship.

Should they miss out, they face a 36-hole qualifier for the US Open at Walton Heath in Surrey in two weeks' time.

LATEST WORLD RANKINGS

1 Tiger Woods 17.36pts, 2 Phil Mickelson 9.38, 3 Retief Goosen 8.16, 4 Vijay Singh 7.59, 5 Jim Furyk 6.54, 6 Ernie Els 6.05, 7 Sergio Garcia 5.78, 8 David Toms 5.28, 9 Adam Scott 5.17, 10 Luke Donald 4.63, 11 Jose Maria Olazabal 4.36, 12 Chad Campbell 4.22, 13 Henrik Stenson 4.19, 14 Tim Clark 4.06, 15 Geoff Ogilvy 4.05, 16 Chris DiMarco 4.03, 17 David Howell 3.95, 18 Stuart Appleby 3.95, 19 Darren Clarke 3.92, 20 Davis Love 3.79.