DAVID Howell finished well down the leaderboard after the first round of the WGC HSBC Champions today following a round of 73 for one-over par.

Conditions appeared perfect for scoring at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai but Swindon star Howell was just one of 13 players in the 78-strong field to shoot over par on the opening day.

Howell famously won the event 10 years ago after holding off former world number one Tiger Woods in the final round.

However, the Broome Manor pro has a mountain to climb if he is to repeat those heroics as he is ten shots off the lead set by South African Branden Grace at nine-under.

Howell’s day started well with a birdie at the opening hole. Although that disappeared with a bogey at the fifth, another birdie at seven saw him reach the turn one-under.

But Howell began to struggle on the back nine and consecutive bogeys at 10 and 11 saw him drop over par, before another followed at the 15th.

The 40-year-old was able to claw back some respectability to his round with a birdie at the final hole, although it was not enough to prevent him finishing over par for the day.

Howell is set to start his second round at 2.10am GMT tomorrow morning.