Howell suffered with a back injury at the end of last year

The Swindon golfer is currently 17th in the world, but has yet to record a top-four finish on United States soil.

"I was never close to winning in 2006 but there were signs that I could compete," said Howell, who plays in the Nissan Open in Los Angeles this week.

"I'm looking forward to taking that step this year and hopefully picking up an event or two."

The 31-year-old believes he in a better position now to challenge for events than when he first went over to the States to play on the PGA Tour.

"I wasn't ready five or six years ago to come and take my card over here," he added.

"I just wasn't that good to try to play on both sides of the Atlantic. I didn't play as well as I would have liked in general over here last year.

I get a great feeling every year I've gone to Augusta that I can play well David Howell

"I did keep my card obviously, which was pleasing, but my position in the world is not about making cuts - it's about threatening and winning tournaments."

Howell was frustrated by injuries at the end of last year but returned to action at the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of the month where he failed to make the cut.

"It was quite well documented towards the end of last year that I probably played too much and was sort of going from week to week with different ailments that held me back a little bit," he said.

"I took six weeks off and didn't hit a shot over the winter before coming back at Dubai.

"I was a little rusty there, but my body felt quite well. Overall my body is feeling, for me, good. I have no excuses this week."

And the Ryder Cup player says he is now in good shape and is already looking forward to the Masters in April, a major he believes is best suited to his game.

"I get a great feeling every year I've gone to Augusta that I can play well, and I've had fleeting moments of excellence during the week," he said.

Tiger Woods has decided not to play at the Nissan Open and will go for an eighth successive US Tour win at the Accenture world match play in Tucson next week.

However, eight of the world's top 10 are competing at Riviera with Ernie Els making his first start in America this year.

Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Paul McGinley and Brian Davis are also competing.