Howell makes an impression

Ryder Cup team-mates Paul Casey and Paul McGinley heaped praise on European Order of Merit leader David Howell after the Englishman raced to the front at the TCL Classic on the Chinese resort island of Hainan.

After carding an eight under par round of 64 yesterday, Howell went one better today with a 63 for a combined total of 17 under par – giving Europe’s number one a two-shot lead over Australian Andrew Buckle.