DAVID Howell has forfeited the prize money he earned at the Shenzhen International event in China after accepting he infringed the rules during last Friday's second round at the Genzon Golf Club.

The two-time Ryder Cup star, from Swindon, incurred a four-stroke penalty for an incident in his second round, which would have resulted in him missing the cut at the event.

The 41-year-old played the final two rounds at the tournament but subsequently approached officials at the end of Sunday's play to express his concerns over his preferred lie at the 15th during Friday's play.

It was agreed Howell, who had signed for a second-round 74, had both played from the wrong place and returned an incorrect scorecard under the rules, with the European Tour later announcing he had forfeited his prize money.

A Tour statement said: “He was unsure if he had taken a preferred lie using the correct score card length or the incorrect club-length and therefore insisted on accepting the appropriate penalty.”

The Broome Manor member is due back in action at this week's Volvo China Open at Topwin Golf & CC in Beijing, along with fellow Wiltshire player Jordan Smith, from the Bowood club near Calne, who finished tied 14th at the Shenzhen International.