DAVID Howell enjoyed a solid if unspectacular start to the Scottish Open today after opening up the tournament with a level-par round of 72.

Swindon star Howell failed to record a birdie in his 18 holes at Castle Stuart, although he did eagle the long-par five 12th hole.

Scoring has proven tough in tricky conditions in Inverness and Howell’s level-par opener currently has him a tie for 30th place, with the majority of players still out on the course.

Of the 59 players who had completed their rounds by the time Howell had returned to the clubhouse, just 16 managed to do so under par.

Australian Scott Hend and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar currently lead the way on three-under after opening up with a round of 69 apiece.

Teeing off at the 10th hole, Broome Manor man Howell got off to a frustrating start as he had to settle for a bogey at his opening hole.

Par followed at the next but Howell was able to get into red figures at the 12th – his third – with a brilliant eagle on the 599-yard par-five brute.

A run of six straight pars saw the 41-year-old reach the turn one-under but again he has left to rue a poor beginning to the second nine as he recorded just a second bogey of the day at the first – his 10th – to drop back to level par.

Howell quickly steadied the ship and although he was unable to haul himself up the leaderboard, he produced a run of solid golf to come home with eight pars in a row – making it 15 for the day – to finish level par.

Two-time Ryder Cup star Howell will be among the late starters tomorrow, teeing off his second round at 1.55pm alongside fellow Englishman Luke Donald and Ireland’s Paul Dunne, starting at the first hole.