3:24pm Thursday 28th January 2010
By Sam Morshead
DAVID Howell endured a nightmare final four holes to finish his first round at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters on five-over-par today.
After an up and down first nine, in which Howell carded birdies on the 10th and 14th but bogeyed the 11th, 15th and 17th, the former Ryder Cup star looked in a solid position to make an advance on the leaderboard after the turn.
But, after five consecutive pars, the Broome Manor pro imploded as he approached home.
Bogeys on six and seven preceded a wild double-bogey on the eighth to leave Howell way off the projected cut of one-over-par and well adrift of leades Oliver Wilson and Bradley Dredge on five-under.
Englishman Wilson and Welshman Dredge lead a chasing pack of four players at four-under-par ahead of tomorrow’s second round.
In amongst the pursuing group are likely European Ryder Cup team members Robert Karlsson and Lee Westwood.
After his round, Karlsson said that he was pleased with his performance.
“The course is set up very difficult so I am happy with the round especially given the conditions,” he said.
“I hit all the greens and had a lot of long putts, but that's what you have to do when it's windy so I am very happy.”
Howell will tee off for his second round at 7am local time (10am GMT) tomorrow with Scot Richie Ramsay and Swede Johan Edbors.
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