DAVID Howell will be hoping to mount an early charge when he gets his third European Tour event of the season under way in the small hours of tomorrow morning.

Swindon star Howell will be in the first group out at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championships, teeing off at 3.20am GMT alongside France’s Raphael Jacquelin and Korean Jin Jong.

The Broome Manor man will be hoping to continue the good form he built up at the Joburg Open last week, where three rounds in the 60s saw him finish in a tie for 13th place, his best of the fledgling season.

Howell is joined by a stellar field at Abu Dhabi Golf Club this week, with current world number one Jordan Spieth and defending Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy also in action.

The 40-year-old will be out to better his efforts at the same event last year where he failed to make the cut after finishing the first two rounds one-under-par at the scoring friendly course.

Howell was making his 2015 seasonal bow at the event that time but he already has two tournaments under his belt ahead off tee off this year.