Howell to cut back on Euro events
Howell says he needs to protect his fitness The 31-year-old Englishman admitted: “I need to cut my schedule down, and Europe is going to take the hit.”I’ll cut four or five events out which I can’t do in America because I already play my minimum there (15 events).”World No. 14 Howell looked to be well on his way to winning the 2006 European Order of Merit until his recurring back injury got the better of him.He began the European season by beating Tiger Woods in Shanghai, and also won the BMW Championship
at Wentworth in May.The Ryder Cup star played 30 times in 2006, then finished off his year at the World Cup and the Target World Challenge. 
David Howell He averaged nearly 28 starts a year in his first nine years on the European Tour, but cut that down to 19 in 2005 when he joined the PGA Tour.After leaving California following the Target World Challenge, he said he planned to take seven weeks off, skipping the Middle East events on the European Tour.”I haven’t got much choice - my body is breaking down,” Howell said.”It’s hard to watch guys playing in the sun when you’re sitting in the cold and rain.”But this year proved it - my body let me down in the second half of the year, and I have to do the best thing by my it.”Howell plans to make his 2007 debut at either the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am or the Nissan Open in February.He will then work his way towards the Accenture Match Play Championship later that month and eventually the Masters at Augusta in early April.His first European appearance looks likely to be his BMW Championship defence in May.