Donald trumps stumbling Howell

Luke Donald made a flying start at Carnoustie to leap to the top of the leaderboard on the third morning of the Dunhill Links Championship.

The Englishman leapfrogged overnight leader David Howell with birdies at the first and fourth holes on a course which was deemed the most difficult of the three being used this week.

By contrast, Howell, who also took advantage of St Andrews and Kingsbarns, made a bad start and slipped to 13-under with a bogey at the par-four third.

Jamie Donaldson fired an early warning of his own by picking up a shot at the 13th after starting on the back nine of the same course.

Switzerland’s Julien Clement also made a good start at St Andrews with three birdies after six holes to go to 10-under.

He was joined by South African Trevor Immelman, who also picked up three shots after six at Carnoustie to make a mockery of its punishing reputation.

Howell moved back to 14-under with a birdie at the fourth hole, two ahead of Donaldson and South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who equalled the course record of 62 at St Andrews on Thursday, picked up a shot at the first on Kingsbarns to go to 11 under.