DAVID Howell’s Open Championship challenge started in disappointing fashion as he posted a three-over-par 74 in today’s opening round.

Swindon star Howell failed to make the most of the good scoring conditions on the front nine at Royal Troon and was in a tie for 120th place as he returned to the clubhouse.

American Patrick Reed currently leads the way after a five-under round of 66, with plenty of players still out on the course after the final grouping only teed off just after 4pm.

Broome Manor man got off to a slow start on the Links in South Ayrshire, with two bogeys in the first four holes, suggesting a tough day was in store.

Howell did not fall any further off the pace as he went out in 38 but the failure to register a single birdie was to prove costly on a front nine that had seen most other players pick up a good number of shots.

The 41-year-old pulled himself back to one-over when he collected his first birdie of the day on the 12th hole but hopes of a level par round soon subsided as another bogey arrived on 15.

Howell then dropped a fourth shot of the day on the final hole, meaning he has plenty of work to do in tomorrow’s second round to make the cut.

Howell will be among the early starters tomorrow, with the two-time Ryder Cup star in the second group out at 6.46am alongside South Korea’s Seung Yul Noh and American Tony Finau.