DAVID Howell was left facing an urgent repair job to his Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship bid as the conclusion to his third round was held over to tomorrow's final day.

The Swindon golfer, right in contention for the €400,000 prize after finishing his second round at seven under par overall earlier in the day, had dropped three shots in the first nine holes of round three before darkness fell.

Howell, 40, will resume his third round at four under par tomorrow morning, six off the lead held by jointly by Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Joost Luiten.

It was a disappointing end to the day for the two-time Ryder Cup star, who had two holes to complete of his second round when he returned to the course this morning.

Howell immediately birdied the eighth - his 17th - to get himself to seven under, but was unable to get anything going at the start of the third round, dropping shots at the first, third and fifth to reach the turn in 39 before the end-of-play hooter sounded.