DAVID Howell endured another disappointing day at The Open as he tumbled down the leaderboard.

The Swindon ace, after carding a one-over par 73 on Saturday in the delayed second round, couldn’t make the most of conditions at St Andrews as many players out on the Old Course claimed birdie after birdie.

The two-time Ryder Cup winner, who got the tournament off to a fine start on Thursday with a four-under 68, claimed his first bogey of the day at the second hole with a five on the par-four hole.

The Swindon ace then dropped another shot on six with his second bogey five of the round.

However, Howell went out on the ninth with a birdie three as he looked to climb his way back up the board and he followed that up on the 11th with a birdie two.

But the Broome Manor pro claimed his third bogey five on the 12th before parring the final six holes for a one-over 73 and leave him two-under overall.

Howell hit 80 per cent of his fairways from the tee, but his greens in regulations was a disappointing 71 per cent and he needed 30 putts over the 18 holes as he returned to the clubhouse in tied 65th.