DAVID Howell had a disastrous third day at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as he finished 10 over for the day, carding a round of 82.

The 42-year-old has seen his performance go downhill fast from the opening day of the tournament in Scotland.

On Thursday the two-time Ryder Cup winner would have finished two under for the day, had he not been handed a two-shot penalty on the final hole at the St Andrew’s Old Course.

On day two he fared slightly worse, finishing four over par, on the Carnoustie course as he peppered his scorecard with a six bogeys and two birdies.

Today, Howell tackled the Kingsbarns Golf Links course and starting on the 10th, the 42-year-old, who was returning to action from a back injury was in trouble from the start.

The Broome Manor pro had already collected four bogeys before reaching the 16th hole, but the Swindon Star went downhill further with a pair of double bogeys on the par five 16th and par four 17th.

His back nine saw a slight improvement, as a run of five straight par was blighted with a bogey five on the sixth and a bogey four on the eighth.

Howell finished in tied 162nd place with a score for the tournament of 14 over-par.