DAVID Howell resumed his quest to make a cut on the European Tour for the first time in 2017 when he got under way in the first round of the Shenzhen International in China in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Swindon star Howell failed to make the weekend’s final two rounds for the sixth tournament in succession at last week’s Trophee Hassan II in Morocco and the 41-year-old has not made a cut since doing so at the UBS Hong Kong Open back in December.

Broome Manor man Howell will hope that a return to a Genzon Golf Club course that he has excelled on in the past will help him to turn that lacklustre form around.

Injury forced Howell to skip the tournament 12 months ago but he finished in a tie for fourth place on his last appearance back at the event back in 2015, with his 10-under total just two shots behind winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand.

Two-time Ryder Cup winner Howell was due to tee off his first round at 12.10am BST tomorrow alongside South African Justin Walters and Australia’s Jason Scrivener.

Visit www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk to keep up-to-date with Howell’s progress in China.