A DISASTROUS double bogey on the opening hole of David Howell’s BMW PGA Championship campaign at Wentworth was somewhat recovered in Surrey on Thursday afternoon.

The 44-year-old ended day one three over after shooting 75, carding two-over on the front nine before registering a one-over return on the back.

Howell’s day started poorly when he shot six on the opening hole par four, though restored some parity when hitting a birdie on the par-three second.

Three pars followed, before a bogey on hole six dropped the two-time Ryder Cup winner back to two-over – a further three pars rounded off his front nine efforts.

After finishing the par-three 10th hole in three shots, the Swindon-born golfer’s day took a turn for the worst when he registered a bogey on the par-four 11th.

Howell’s second birdie of the day followed on the 12th, before a run of bogey-birdie-bogey placed him back to three-over with as many holes remaining.

The day concluded in steady fashion, with Howell notching three pars.

He starts Friday’s second round at 12.05pm in company with Stephen Gallacher and Scott Hend.

Other Wiltshire hope Jordan Smith was also in action, he ended day one three-under after recording four birdies on holes seven, 10, 16 and 18.