DAVID Howell still has his sights set on taking home the Claret Jug at The Open this weekend as he prepares to start his third round this lunchtime.

The Broome Manor Pro endured a tenuous waiting game as his second round became a stop-start affair, but remains in the hunt on three-under-par for the tournament.

Howell tees off shortly after midday at St Andrews and knows he will have to shoot a low score to put himself in the mix on the final day, which is set to finish on a Monday for the first time since 1988.

“The target still is to win this great tournament, so I am going to have to go out there and shoot something in the mid-60s to get myself right into the hunt,” he said.

“Two years ago, when I won the Dunhill Links Championship here, I managed to shoot 63 on the Saturday, and I actually thought I shot 64, that’s how much I was in the zone.

“That is the kind of golf I am going to need to play and be mentally strong as well.”

Howell will be chasing down America’s Dustin Johnson who was the overnight leader on 10-under-par.

“I am seven shots behind one of the best players in the world, who is just about made for this golf course, in Dustin Johnson.

“He has knocked on the door at every major, so of course to overhaul him from this position will be a herculean effort or need him to do something bad, but stranger things have happened before.

“I came into this week, of course we all want to win The Open, but secondary to that I set myself the goal to make it my most successful Open Championship so far.

“I finished 15th last year and was in that position most of the week, and something along those lines would leave me satisfied, if not realising that another year has gone by without the Claret Jug being on my mantel-piece.”