"Wait and see": David Howell on Rahm, Rory and his favourite Masters memories

As a two-time Ryder Cup winner and three-time Masters participant, there aren't many bucket list golf experiences David Howell hasn't had.

Now a much-loved pundit for Sky Sports, a new addition to the StaySure Legends Tour and the chairman of the DP World Tour's Tournament Players committee, the Englishman sits at the very epicentre of the professional game right now and remains one of golf's most passionate advocates.

As such, Howell has teamed up with DS Automobiles, sponsor of the upcoming DP World Tour Italian Open, to help launch the N°8: a brand-new coupe crossover tailor-made for a life between the links. 

We caught up with Howell at the launch at Silvermere Golf Club to debrief on yet another historic masters, chat the state of the game right now, and get his thoughts on all the biggest stories in the lead-up to next year's Ryder Cup.

As part of the launch DS are teaming up with  DS N°8 Challenge to give golfers the chance to win a brand-new N°8 worth over £50,000, in partnership with Toptracer. Check out the video below and details for entry here, and read on for our full interview with David.

GolfMagic: You've had some great times at Augusta, having played three Masters made the cut in all of them. What's your favourite personal memory of your time playing there? 

David Howell: It has to be the first one I played. I ended up in the penultimate group for round three alongside Tiger Woods on his way to winning it. That was one heck of an experience on every level. It was completely joyous, really. 

What was it like to experience Tiger's mentality during his absolute peak? 

Yeah, so we were five or six behind Chris DiMarco. I can't remember who was in the last group with DiMarco. I'd have to look it up. But I know we were five or six behind. I remember my mentality was very much 'can I cope with this situation?' And I didn't play too bad, actually. Front nine, I was only one over, which wasn't terrible. 

But having a front row seat watching him in his pomp, there was zero doubt that he was going to catch Chris up. That was just it. He was going to do it, and he did. I think he shot 65 that day, and was near flawless aside from going into the water on 15. I think he made seven birdies in a row, which might be an Augusta record.

Looking back now, considering how I was playing and the things I got to take part in, that's the most enjoyable block of time I reflect on from my career. I was just pinching myself that it was me out there.

Lots has been made of the last couple of years with Rory not talking to his playing partners in the last round. I can't imagine Tiger would have been too chatty when he was locked in like that. Do you really think about it when you're out there?

This is truly the most ridiculous controversy to have come out of the Masters in recent years.

To hear Bryson talking about McIlroy didn't want to speak to him last year in the final round. Of course he didn't! When you're out there you're trying to do everything you can to just be in your own world. It's fine to want to intimidate your opponent a little but those are two different things. 

Were Norman and Faldo chatting away in '96? of course not. And it's so strange that we're seeing this same line of questioning again 12 months later with Cam Young. So no, short answer. Tiger and I had a couple of pleasantries on the first tee and we spoke at the end, and it was awesome.

Do you feel like we've hit the end of the line for Tiger?

I don't know. It's been quite a life story so far, isn't it? We're the same age. We played in the Walker Cup together. I don't know him well, but I played with him a few times. 

Whatever happens, his life story is just the most remarkable one, isn't it? He's in a sad place at the moment, it would seem, through, you know, injury primarily. The accident itself isn't for me to pass comment on. But he's obviously in a tough place. 

I have my own little aches and pains, which can get me down at times, but it's nothing, it would seem, on the level that Tiger's facing. So, you know, he's done so much in the game. You hope he just can get himself to a happy place.

I think it would have been lovely to have seen him as Ryder Cup captain for Ireland. I think it could have turned a new chapter in his life. And again, it seems that it's not going to happen now for this episode. Which is a shame. 

What's more important now though is that it looks like he's a man in physical pain at the very least. And I hope that can end for him and he can get himself in a happier spot.

Are there any small little details you particularly miss that people might not know about taking part in the Masters?

There were definitely things that I wasn't aware of when I first got there. Small things like the fact you're often sharing a locker, a locker with another player. The locker room's small, it's classy, it's awesome. I thought it was just me because I was a rookie. 

But that year Colin Montgomerie was sharing his locker with an amateur next door despite being in his absolute pomp, which would unimaginable anywhere else in the world.

Access to Augusta, you know, visually now is far beyond what it was when I first played there. I just remember walking out the back of the clubhouse towards the first tee. It felt like it was the first time I'd ever seen where the first tee is.

It's only when you get there that you realise how the course sits below you, down this massive hill. I just hadn't pictured it like that. You can sort of see it now because of the drone footage and stuff, but the whole layout of the place was completely different to how I envisaged it.

The other  thing that struck me absolutely most as well was just the sense of excitement it brings out in every golfer to get there. Even if you're Jack Nicklaus, you seem to be, you're still like a kid on Christmas day arrived when you drive through the gates of Magnolia Lane. Jack's been going there for 60 years, but for him it's still as exciting, still as wonderful. It's incredible what they've built.

We're speaking a couple of days removed from Rory's back-to-back win. Did his performance in the first couple of days in particular catch you by surprise?

Yeah, I thought he'd play well but I didn't predict him to win. I just thought it was too much to ask to go back to back, but I think it turned out to be such a different experience for Rory that none of us were expecting.

In a way, I'm not sure how much he's enjoyed being at Augusta for the vast majority of the Masters he's played over the last 17 years. He had such a huge burden of expectation from the get-go, and then to go through it all over again chasing the Grand Slam, I don't think it was enjoyable for him, really. In a way, I think I probably enjoyed my Masters experiences more than Rorys has to date. 

That being said, this year, you know, turned up early, was there, he was centre of attention, had the champions dinner, all the good stuff. So I thought he'd play well because that burden was clearly gone. And that's how it played out. He played the first two days like he was just a kid again, and he really did get the best out of himself. 

Do you feel like we're talking about someone now who has many majors do you kind of see on the cards for him? Another one this year, perhaps?

If you were a betting man, would you say he ends on six or would you bet that he ends on more? You'd bet more, wouldn't you? Of course you would. 

I think the list of major champions presents quite a nice target in a way. He's on six now, and then you've got a bunch of real old classic names at Seven. Hogan and Watson are on eight. Gary Player has nine. Once you start knocking those off, you're into real rarefied air, aren't you? Suddenly you're in the running as of the great three or four players of all time.

I think he's got that within him. I think that'll be what inspires him to get up, go to the gym, do his thing for the next 10 years.

I don't think he's thinking of Tiger's or Jack's record. 

But if he can get into double figures, why wouldn't he have that in his mind? I'm pretty sure he would. He's young enough, fit enough, good enough to think that way.

Moving on to Justin Rose, who came close again.

So close. So close.

What did you make of his performance first of all? What's unique about him that enables him to keep knocking on the door and keep momentum despite so many disappointments? 

I had a long career, but one punctuated by way more slumps and injury and this, that and the other. Did I dedicate myself to golf? Did I make sacrifices? Absolutely. Was I able to live my life as professionally and as cleanly and as focused for such a long period of time as Justin? Well, the answer I would say is no. 

It's remarkable what he's able to do. His resilience about going back and these experiences, they just don't seem to knock him. He takes everything in his stride and, he frames these experiences correctly in that. At the end of the day, it was another brilliant performance, and it's clear that he's is the best player to have ever played at Augusta without getting win in itself. It's a wonderful moniker in a way. 

He wants the win, of course. He may not get it. He's aware of that. But I say he still gives himself a few more chances. I think this one will hurt because he really had it in the palm of his hand.

I'm not sure his other great weeks panned out quite in the same way. Amen Corner did it for Justin this year. He knows it. We all watched it. And that was a shame. He's not the first and won't be the last. But I would say this one will sting a little bit. 

From what you've seen in the first stint of the season, is there anyone who we're not talking about enough that you're tipping for like a breakout 2026?

Do you know what? One of the people that's impressed me a lot this year, he's not a breakout star, is John Parry. He's gone over to America as a 40-year-old, coming from being on the Challenge Tour two years ago. And he hasn't not missed a cut.  He might well keep his card, and in fact I'd back him to. Playing the best goal of his life. What a great story that is. I really hope he continues to go on and do well. 

One, just below the headlines is Chris Gotterup, who just can't stop winning since getting the Scottish Open. He's quite a refreshing player, the way he goes about it. Does things slightly differently.

They're the two that spring to mind. I'm sure there's many, many more. But Paz, the old man who's the rookie, is, I think, an amazing story.

You hold quite a senior position in the DP World Tour, so we have to talk briefly about right now about Jon Rahm. Is there a solution somewhere to be found? Do you predict that we see him at the Ryder Cup next year? 

Yeah, I think it's a wait and see. I certainly know the DP World Tour are really keen to continue talking to Jon to find a solution. But at the moment, both, it would seem that both parties have sort of set their stall out, that they see it, they're chewing from a different side of the stick, shall we say. And at the moment, it's a little bit never the twain shall meet, which is clearly a shame.

The tour, I'm sure, will stick to the rules. The rules are the rules for good reasons, so we believe. And Jon is the one player who doesn't see it the same way at the moment. So it is a wait and see space, I'm afraid.

What excites you the most about The Ryder Cup returning to Ireland? 

Well, one of mine was at the K Club. So we played in Ireland. It was amazing. We used to play the K Club as a regular tour stop. So we felt incredibly comfortable.

I think that was the most confident European Ryder Cup team we ever had. I think we thought we were going to win and we did handsomely. This time, we're heading to Adare Manor, a different type of course.

Have you played it? 

I have, yeah. It's the Augusta of Ireland, for sure in the way it's built and set up. It's a gorgeous place. Classy throughout. And it's a beautiful course.  

Do you think the Europeans will be feeling as confident as you did?

I think the biggest strength of the Europeans going back to Ireland is the experience they just had at Bethpage. I was there. It was an epic event. It was a thrilling finish that I was privileged to call. But I didn't like the atmosphere. I didn't like the way it had gone. I thought Keegan Bradley pitched it completely wrong. 

Crowds aren't going to win you Ryder Cups, but it felt like the American team were convinced that 40,000 American fans were going to be the difference. And it actually can be quite intimidating to play in front of that. But as soon as you start going down, those crowds can boo. And I felt like there was an element of that. 

So the Irish fans, the Scottish golf fans, two of the most knowledgeable sets of golf fans in the world, they love their sport for all the right reasons. And I think it's perfect timing for the Ryder Cup matches to head back to Ireland. I think the atmosphere will be slightly more what we're used to. I think that'll be a good thing.