DAVID Howell concluded his commitments at the weather-hit 144th Open Championship with a two-under-par round of 70 at St Andrews this morning.

With the tournament finishing on a Monday for only the second time, the Swindon player was among the early starters on the Old Course as low scoring was the order of the day .

Torrential rain on Friday and winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour on Saturday had resulted in a Monday finish, but conditions were ideal for the delayed final round.

Howell took full advantage on the outward nine, carding three birdies to reach the turn in 36.

The two-time Ryder Cup star picked up a shot on the second, then added back to back threes on the sixth and seventh.

Another followed on the 10th but Howell endured a messy end to his tournament.

He dropped a shot on the long par five 14th before the infamous Road Hole - the 17th - caught him out as he had to mark down a double-bogey six.

Howell concluded with a birdie three at the 18th to finish at four under par for the championship, with the Omega European Masters in Switzerland later this week his next destination.