DAVID Howell enjoyed a solid opening day at the Czech Masters.

The Swindon ace headed to Prague bereft of form following early exit at the Paul Lawrie Match Play a fortnight ago.

The 41-year-old has also endured a season of frustration due to a foot injury that forced him to sit out several of the early season tournaments.

While, it is unlikely that the two-time Ryder Cup winner will make the Race to Dubai this year, Howell needs to finish inside the top 60 of this year’s European Tour order of merit and he is currently in 129th and 218,231 points adrift, he is looking to finish the campaign on a high.

Teeing off with American veteran John Daly and Czech Republic’s Filip Mruzek, the Broome Manor pro did not drop a shot in his opening round at the Albatross Golf Resort.

Howell began the day with eight consecutive pars before picking up a birdie four on the ninth as he turned for home one-under-par.

On the back nine, after parring 10 and 11, he then picked up his second birdie of the round - shooting four on the par five 12th.

Howell then headed for home with six pars to finish two-under for the day and three shots behind joint leaders Thomas Pieters and Peter Hanson.