DAVID Howell will not be getting complacent at the European Masters after his best finish of the season last week in the Italian Open.

In Torino the Swindon golfer posted successive good rounds, cumulating into a final day where he shot a nine under par 63. It was the end of an up-and-down period for Howell where he reworked his swing and posted some mixed results.

Now the Broome Manor pro is in Switzerland looking to follow up that fine performance but he knows that he cannot rest on the laurels of his Italian Open. The Crans-sur-Sierre course presents different challenges to Circolo, with its series of testing par threes but the 39-year-old is confident he he can continue his good form.

“The tricky bit is not to get complacent. It’s a fresh week, we all start level par on Thursday and I have to go out and do all the things I did well last week again,” he said.

“One of the key things for me was I thought very well last week. I was calm and my course management was good. They are the variables you can take care of.

“The ebb and flow golf is something you can’t control and your swing, perhaps surprisingly, isn’t always either.

“I certainly feel like things are going my way at the moment, last week was the accumulation of a month long period of improvement. My plan is to keep playing consistently good golf. That might mean another great result like last week or a solid top 40 finish.

“I think everyone enjoys playing here (in Switzerland). The course has seen a few changes. It’s probably slightly easier that it has been in recent times.

“I’ve played here a lot and I’m very comfortable on the course, it kind of suits me. I have no worries about how I’m going to play it.

“You have to think out this course very well. It’s fiddly and ultimately it comes down to good iron play.

“The par threes are stern, if you play them par for the week you’ll be in a good place. It also means when you do miss a green here it’s very tricky. Course management is important but if you find yourself in a poor position then putting well is key.”

Howell tees off today at 12.20pm UK time alongside Robert Karlsson and Mikko Ilonen and the Swindon Advertiser will be following his progress throughout the week.