DAVID Howell dropped six shots in his final six holes as his Alstom Open de France challenge ended on a low-key note in Paris today.

The Swindon ace posted a final round of 75 – his highest of the week to end on a total of 291, seven over par for the tournament.

The 40 year old at least concluded his commitments at Le Golf National before the threat of lightning forced a break in the day’s play, with the leaders in the early stages of their final rounds.

Howell, who briefly led the tournament on Thursday’s opening day and posted a level-par 71 on Saturday, made an encouraging start today, with a birdie at the short second dipping him under par for the day in an otherwise uneventful opening nine holes of 35.

The two-time Ryder Cup star added another at the 10th, the third time he had birdied the hole during the week as he made a solid start on the turn for home.

However, the wheels started to come off as he posted successive bogeys on 13, the long 14th and 15 before parring the short 16th.

Another shot went at the 17th and his finish also left a lot to be desired, as a double bogey on the 18th brought him home in 40 shots.

Howell will now focus his attention on honing his preparations for this month’s Open Championship at St Andrews and is in the field for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane, East Lothian, which gets under way on Thursday.