Howell charge puts him in hunt for Irish Open

David Howell put the latest in a long line of near misses behind him today to get right into the thick of things again at the Nissan Irish Open.

The Ryder Cup star, beaten by Thomas Bjorn in a play-off for the British Masters on Sunday, had four birdies in five holes and moved into a share of the second-round lead with Liverpool's Nick Dougherty at Carton House.