Eagle has Howell flying high

David Howell’s remarkable return from injury continued today when he took a share of the first round lead in the Dunhill Links championship.

Helped by sinking a 160-yard five iron for an eagle two, the 30-year-old Ryder Cup star fired a five-under-par 67 at Carnoustie to be tied at the top with American tour player Rich Beem and Italian Alessandro Tadini.

The best season of Howell’s career was stopped in its tracks in June when he suffered an abdominal muscle injury at the US Open the morning after he had tried a heavy practice club belonging to Vijay Singh.

It put him out for two months, but far from easing his way back into things the Swindon golfer won his third event back, has had four successive top-10 finishes and last week collected four points out of five for Britain and Ireland in their Seve Trophy win.

“This game will never be too easy but it’s quite enjoyable at the moment I will admit,” said Howell.

He stands fifth on the Order of Merit and with top three Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen and Angel Cabrera all sitting out this week the first prize of £450,000 would give him a real chance of winning it.

And then, of course, there are all the Ryder Cup points on offer as well.

The eagle came on the 394-yard seventh, his 16th. “I couldn’t see it because it was behind a bunker, but it felt beautiful and a couple of guys cheered.

“I’m pretty much playing totally relaxed golf. I couldn’t ask for anything more in my life, things are going great and I’ve learnt that if I play nicely I generally contend.

“I had the feeling today that if I keep plugging away come Sunday I will have a bit of excitement. But the finish (he also birdied the ninth) turned it into a great day.

“The injury was a real blow, but there’s a silver lining to everything. I’m swinging it better and have come back so much stronger.”

Beem’s start was in stark contrast to his last British visit. It was for the Open at St Andrews in July and after missing the cut with rounds of 74 and 79 he broke his putter in half and presented it to the Old Castle Tavern.

“I’ll go by and see it,” said the 2002 US PGA champion, who has another bad memory of Scottish golf.

His Open debut was at Carnoustie in 1999 and not only did he have rounds of 80 and 81, but on the same visit he was arrested for drink-driving, fined £450 and banned for 18 months.

Nevertheless, the two experiences have not altered his affection for links golf and it is why he is playing in the event for the second year running.

“You have to play by feel and I love that,” commented Beem.

Tadini, who has missed his last five halfway cuts, made it a three-way tie at the top after grabbing six birdies in his last nine holes, also at Carnoustie.

St Andrews and Kingsbarns are also used for the tournament and the Home of Golf provided the main home interest with 52-year-old Sam Torrance leading on his own with a four under par 68.

Torrance is a past winner of the team title with his son Daniel and they are partners again this week.

A birdie on the last gave him a one-stroke advantage over English pair Peter Baker and Philip Golding, Dane Anders Hansen and France’s Christian Cevaer.

At Kingsbarns the best score was also 68 – by Welshman Bradley Dredge, England’s Kenneth Ferrie and South African Keith Horne.

Back at Carnoustie Darren Clarke, who with his wife Heather battling cancer has not played for over a month, and Paul Casey returned 68s, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington and Ian Woosnam all shot 70, Lee Westwood a 71 and Paul McGinley a very disappointing 74.

There was also a 72 from Jean Van de Velde, who six years on from blowing the Open with a closing triple bogey seven paid another visit to the Barry Burn in front of the green.

This time Van de Velde duffed a 100-yard wedge. But a 20-foot putt gave him a bogey five.

In the team section an 11 under par better-ball of 61 from South African Des Terblanche and Brand de Villiers gave them a one-shot lead. Former Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards, playing with Ferrie, is only three behind and Sir Bobby Charlton just one further back partnering David Lynn.