DAVID Howell’s hopes of making an impact at the Made in Denmark event this week look slim after a disappointing first round in Aalborg yesterday.

Howell returned a five-over-par round of 76 at the Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, leaving him struggling to make the cut in today’s second round.

Starting on the 10th, Howell double-bogeyed his second hole and dropped further shots at the next and the 16th to reach the turn in 40.

Brief respite came in the form of a birdie at the third – his 12th – but his prospects immediately nose-dived as he triple-bogeyed the long fourth, taking eight.

The Swindon ace concluded with a birdie at the ninth to lie 10 shots behind the early leaders, who included home favourite Thomas Bjorn.