DAVID Howell needs to pull off a near-fantastical turnaround to regain his leading man status at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after a disastrous end to his opening round today.

The 40-year-old Swindon ace, who won the lucrative event back in 2013, was once again partnered by Hollywood star Hugh Grant in the pro-am championship and got off to a steady start at St Andrews, with four birdies inside his first 11 holes but the plot soon took a dramatic turn for the worse.

On the back nine, Howell double-bogeyed the par-five 14th and dropped another shot on the par-four 15th.

Still reeling, the Broome Manor pro was offered some brief respite as he parred the 16th but there was a late twist in the tale, leaving the two-time Ryder Cup winner with it all to do.

Howell contrived to double-bogey both the final two holes, which saw him finish a disappointing three-over-par and a long way down the leaderboard.

He goes looking to start his redemption story in his second round at Carnoustie tomorrow, teeing off at 10.28am.