IT WAS an uninspiring first day in Dubai for David Howell as he recorded 17 pars in a one-under first round of 71 today.

The Swindon star is looking for a first top-10 finish of the European Tour season at the Dubai Desert Classic this week – a tournament that provided Howell with his first tour triumph back in 1999.

Those heroics came at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, whereas life has been much more low-key for Howell at the Emirates Golf Club so far this year.

All looked encouraging for the Broome Manor man as he followed up a par on the first hole with an excellent birdie three at the par-four second to move into red figures, but after that it was a hard day’s graft.

Howell produced a run of solid if unspectacular golf to post 16 straight pars and get back to the clubhouse at one-under.

That leaves the 40-year-old in a tie for 47th place on the early leaderboard, five shots off the lead held by Sweden’s Alex Noren, who kicked off his challenge with a bogey-free round of 66 for six-under.

Howell will be among the early starters tomorrow as he tees off his second round alongside fellow Englishman Anthony Wall and Holland’s Joost Luiten at 4.35am GMT, with the trio starting at the 10th hole.