Howell grabs share of lead

Three birdies lifted Britain’s David Howell into a share of second place when the US Tour’s International tournament resumed in Colorado today.

Howell, joint ninth after the opening round of an event where birdies earn two points and eagles five, improved his total to 14 over the first 10 holes to overtake overnight pacesetter Mathias Gronberg. But Australian John Senden moved his score onto 16 points to lead the star-studded field.

Gronberg, 103rd on this year’s US Tour money list, was among the later starters, but Sergio Garcia had three birdies and a double bogey in eight holes and with nine points was up into a share of 15th place on nine points.

Compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal, however, ran up a double bogey seven on the first and after an outward 37 was lying only 63rd on four points.

That was still two points better than world number two Phil Mickelson, whose warm-up for next week’s defence of the US PGA title was not going as well as he had hoped.