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Howell optimistic despite slip

16/06/2006

David Howell has claimed he is still positive about his US open chances, despite throwing away a three-shot lead on the first day's play.

The English golfer had raced onto the top of the leader-board after six birdies on the opening ten holes at Winged Foot.

But he followed the impressive start with two bogeys and a double bogey in the concluding holes, allowing Colin Montgomerie to claim top-spot with a score of one under.

"I'm in great shape. I would rather be three under but I'm not. I hit plenty of good shots, so let's not dwell on the bad ones," Howell maintained.

The world number nine had been the only golfer among the early starters to register an under par score in unforgiving conditions.

But he was disappointed with himself in letting his concentration slip later on in the day when the weather cleared and conditions turned near-perfect.

"It's such a shame to drop shots in the easiest part of the day. But if you hit bad shots around here, you're going to get punished, no matter what wind there is," he said.

Despite later claiming that he was "delighted" with his overall performance, which he rated as his best ever at the US open "by a long way", he had earlier appeared to be completely despondent as his quest for a major goes on.

"Once I calm down a bit, it's still level par and it's a great round of golf. Right now, I'm frustrated and I'm fed up," Howell said.

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