DAVID Howell has left himself with a lot of work to do to make the cut at the Maybank Championship Malaysia after a two-over par first round today.

The Swindon star’s two birdies at Royal Selangor Golf Club were outweighed by four bogeys as he shot an opening 73 in Kuala Lumpur.

He is already nine shots off the early pace, which is set by Australian Nathan Holman after a bogey-free round of 64 for seven-under par.

Broome Manor man Howell got his round off to a slow start and, after opening up with three pars, he dropped his first shot of the day with a bogey at the par-three fourth.

He claimed that back immediately with a birdie at the fifth but two more shots slipped away on the eighth and ninth holes to have him two-over at the turn.

Howell was much more solid coming home and five straight pars before a birdie at the long 15th whole had him within touching distance of even par again.

However, that was undone at the final hole as Howell posted his fourth bogey of the day to slip back again and head into the clubhouse in a tie for 102nd place.

Howell heads out early for his second round tomorrow, teeing off alongside Thailand’s Natipong Srithong and Miguel Tabuena, of the Philippines at 12.40am GMT.

Follow his progress at www.swindonadvertiser.couk/sport.