A DISASTROUS opening 12 holes put paid to David Howell’s hopes of a flying start to the French Open today as he kicked off with a three-over round of 74.

Swindon star Howell went through that stretch five-over, although he was able to bring back some respectability to his scorecard before returning to the clubhouse at Le Golf National.

Howell is currently in a tie for 94th place in Paris midway through the opening day and looks likely to need a strong second round to avoid a second missed cut in as many week’s on the European Tour following a disappointing showing at the BMW International Open in Germany last time out.

Teeing off on the 10th hole, Howell got off to a shaky start, with a bogey at his third before another at the long par-five 14th – his fifth.

Broome Manor man Howell was able to avoid any more dropped shots on his outward nine but surrendered another stroke immediately after the turn.

A nasty double bogey on the third – Howell’s 12th – saw him slide out to five-over for the day but the 41-year-old was swiftly able to counter some of that damage with back-to-back birdies, his first red numbers of the day.

Howell was unable to continue that momentum until the close, however, and four straight pars saw him finish the day three-over.

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard is the current leader in the clubhouse after a five-under opening round of 66, which included a hole in one at the par-three second hole, with play not expected to conclude until around 6pm BST this evening.