DAVID Howell is an early contender for the shot of year award after stripping off in South Africa.

On a hot day in Gauteng, things got a bit steamy when the Broome Manor pro came up short on the 10th - his first hole of the BMW SA Open tournament and the new season.

Having left his waterproofs in the clubhouse, it was only a matter of time before they would be called for, however even Howell was not anticipating finding a water hazard so early on.

The 40-year-old came up short of the green and found himself with a tricky shot out of the mud.

Keen to keep his new shirt, which was adorned with two new sponsors this year, clean and having turned down an offer from playing partner Ernie Els to borrow the South African’s waterproofs, Howell opted to remove his garment and play the shot topless.

“It was our first hole and it was all a little bit ironic really,” Howell told the Adver.

“As we were walking to the range and as it was a hot day, my caddie asked me if it was alright if we took the waterproofs out.

“We’d normally keep the waterproofs in for any eventuality, such as that.

“Ironically, I happened to say ‘leave them out I’m sure we’ll be fine’.

“I thought I had hit a nice shot at the first but came up just short in the rough and the ball rolled back into the water hazard, but in the mud rather than the water.

“I had my brand new t-shirt on with two new sponsors (National Rent-A-Car and Burrington Estates), thinking I was looking a million dollars.

“I got there and it was playable but I knew I was going to get covered in mud. Ernie (Els) offered me his waterproofs to put on but I didn’t fancy covering them in oily black mud, so I thought the best thing was to strip my top off and give it a hack.

“I was surprised there were photos because it was so early in the morning.”

Howell went on to bogey the hole, before carding four birdies on his front nine to go out with a score of 33.

However, things took a dip at the turn and the two-time Ryder Cup winner dropped a shot on the first with a bogey-five, followed with back-to-back bogeys on holes three and four.

A birdie on the par-three sixth got Howell back in the red and left him tied 19th at the end of his round, six shots off clubhouse leader Jaco Van Zyl.

“That was a poor start but then I bounced back straight away and played really nicely the rest of my front nine – the back nine of the course,” added Howell.

“All in all, one-under is ok, but being three-under at the turn, I was looking for a bit better.

“It was not a bad first day of the year but the waterproofs have gone in the bag already.”