DAVID Howell’s bid to make the cut in his first outing of the European Tour has been halted by lightning.

The Swindon ace, who was forced to strip down to just his trousers yesterday after finding a mud hazard on the 10th hole, had just completed 10 of his 18 holes for his second round when the threat of an electrical storm in Johannesburg ended play for the day at the BMW SA Open.

The 40-year-old, who began his round on the first tee, claimed a birdie two on the third green before immediately following that up with back-to-back bogeys to leave him one-over-par overall.

The two-time Ryder Cup winner moved back to level par with a birdie on seven, only for play to be abandoned for the day with Howell on the 11th hole.

The Broome Manor pro will get his second round underway again at 4.30am UK time tomorrow.