DAVID Howell enjoyed a much stronger second day at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship today but still has a massive fight on his hands to make the cut today.

Having gone around the Old Course at St Andrews in a three-over par 75 on yesterday, Swindon ace Howell was pitted against the famously tough Carnoustie course.

However, he coped with that challenge well and went around in a level par 72 to remain at three-over for the tournament.

That still leaves Howell, who claimed his last European Tour victory at this event back in 2013, well down the leaderboard and he was in a tie for 135th place with a handful of players still completing their round this evening.

Howell has his work cut out to make the cut and he will be hoping for a blistering performance when he goes in his third round tomorrow at Kingsbarn.

Playing alongside Hollywood actor Hugh Grant, the Broome Manor pro’s second round got off to a low-key start with a run of eight consecutive birdies, however, a bogey at the ninth saw things explode into life.

That saw Howell reach the turn in one over before a run of birdie, bogey, birdie brought him back level for the day.

After a par at 13, the 40-year-old then got into red figures for the first time with his third birdie in five holes at the next.

However, Howell could not mount that into a stronger charge up the leaderboard and a bogey at 17 took the gloss of his round before a par at the last saw him end his day even.