SWINDON ace David Howell again experienced troubles on the opening four holes at the Le Golf Nationale but a back nine recovery saw him card 73 for the third round in a row.

The Broome Manor pro bogeyed three of the course's four opening holes yesterday and today went one worse carding one over par at all four.

However only one further bogey at 12 punctuated a solid recovery from the 38-year-old who hit birdies at seven, 10, 15 and 16.

Howell resumes tomorrow three over par for the tournament but still only a makeable under-par round away from a top-20 finish with low scores hard to come by on the Parisien outskirts