SWINDON’S David Howell will be glad when he gets to his bed this evening after the longest second round of golf in his career.

The 40-year-old ensured he will be at St Andrews for the third round of The Open after a frustrating wait to finish his second round, which spanned more than 26 hours.

After having his round curtailed late last night with nine holes still to play, following a rain hit second day, it was the wind that kept the Broome Manor Pro waiting today.

“I don’t think I ever remember being this tired after a second round of a tournament,” said Howell who suffered a reoccurrence of his back injury yesterday.

“Yesterday was a hell of a tough day, a really tough nine holes.

“My back was bad, I think I had one particularly terrible lie after a good drive, lost my concentration a little bit because the back was playing on my mind and I felt the tournament could have got away from me a little bit.

“Then I made a great birdie on nine and when we came back out again this evening, it was still touch and go, but they got it right in the end.

“It is just a waiting game. My family were there and I had a little bit of time with the kids here and there and plenty of coffees and lunches and breakfasts.

“I warmed up a couple of times in the gym with my physio, to go out at 4pm, that didn’t work and then 5pm and then we were going.

“That wasn’t very easy but it’s the same for everyone.

“The one good thing is my back was brilliant this evening, which the way it felt yesterday, was a worry.

“Maybe the extra 10 hours rest didn’t do me any harm on that front.”

Howell resumed early this morning on the 10th tee and made par before his round was stopped for a second time, with winds of over 40mph causing havoc.

“I only putted, I had a 15 footer, which was pretty makeable, but in the conditions it was just a case of sending it down and hoping it would drop, but it didn’t,” added Howell.

“We didn’t play 11, that’s where all the problems were.

“We had to then wait around for however long it was, 11 hours or something, and then faced with basically the same problem.

“It was really on the limit, if the balls were going to move.

“The wind had obviously dropped by three or four mile an hour, because they actually weren’t moving, but it was one of the hardest par threes you will ever play.

Play resumed at about 6.30pm and Howell kept things steady as he completed the back nine to par, to finish his round one-over and remain three-under-par for the tournament.

“The first three or four holes are as difficult as you are ever going to get it, in terms of strength of wind.

“You knew in a heartbeat there could be a disaster around any corner.

“It felt like a real battle this evening and it was quite draining, so I am going to need a good night’s sleep.

 “To come in with all pars and played some pretty nice stuff actually at times coming down the last eight holes there, was very pleasing.”

American Dustin Johnson is the overnight leader on 10-under-par with round three starting tomorrow morning.