DAVID Howell admits he has to remind himself that he is lucky to be playing this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after calling his round of level par today “frustrating”.

The defending champion was on a verge of withdrawing from the event in Scotland due to neck spasms on the eve of the event.

But the 39-year-old had managed to recover in time to make the first tee on Thursday morning.

And following a round of 70 at Carnoustie to leave him two-under-par on day one, the Broome Manor pro shot a level par 72 at Kingsbarns.

Howell, who will play the Old Course at St Andrews tomorrow, told the Advertiser: “My caddie also reminded me that I’m lucky to be playing this week because it doesn’t take long to get frustrated with the game, which I was today.

“I can’t believe that I was able to play this week given how bad I was on Wednesday.

“We are not in bad shape and, to be honest, we are not a million miles off the top and if we can have a good round on Saturday, things should start to even out.”

Teeing off on the 10th at Kingsbarn, Howell looked on course to finishing his opening nine holes on two-under until a double-bogey six on the 18th.

The Swindon star pulled a shot back on the first hole and he also hit another birdie on five, which were cancelled out by bogeys on three and seven.

“The greens were a little slower than what we have been used to and to get around level is reasonable,” Howell added.