IN THE lower moments of his golfing career, double and triple bogeys were an all too regular occurrence for David Howell.

And the Broome Manor star could be forgiven for thinking it was Groundhog Day after completing the first hole at Carnoustie yesterday.

Competing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship alongside Hollywood actor Bill Murray, Howell began with a seven at the par-four opener.

But, no doubt inspired by the Caddyshack star, Howell steadied the ship and holed four pars in a row, before sinking a birdie at the sixth.

Four more pars followed either side of the turn, before a bogey five at 11 took him to three-over.

However, Howell, who in the past has played alongside Hugh Grant and Samuel L. Jackson at the event, stormed back to form in superb style.

Gains followed at 12, 13 and 14 to get the Swindon pro get back to level par for the first time since he teed off.

And a birdie two at the 16th took Howell to one-under and gave a respectable edge to his round, on a course that was tricky to score well on all day.

South African Branden Grace topped the leaderboard at the end of day one following a brilliant round of 12-under at Kingsbarns.