DAVID Howell endured a disappointing second day at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships after carding a four-over par round of 76.

Howell, who is making his comeback from a back injury, had started the tournament well as he carded a two-under par 70 on the Old Course at St Andrews before a two-shot penalty for teeing off in front of the marker on the 18th left him at level par for the day.

Despite that opening round, the two-time Ryder Cup winner couldn't quite carry his form into day two on the Carnoustie course. The Broome Manor pro started the round with a run of five straight par fours, before hitting a hiccup when he registered back-to-back bogeys on the par five sixth and par four seventh.

Things went from bad to worse for the Swindon star as he hit a bogey five on the 10th.

However, Howell did manage to make some progress deep into his second round by recording a birdie four on the 12th.

This work was undone a hole later as he picked up his fourth bogey at the par three 13th.

On the 14th, he shaved another stroke from his scorecard with a birdie four but history then repeated itself as Howell recorded another bogey five on the 15th, before settling down with par three and par four on the 16th and 17th.

To finish off a disappointing day the 42-year-old carded his sixth bogey of the day on the par four 18th.