David Howell makes the early moves in the British Masters at Woburn

09 October 2015 09:01

England's David Howell made the biggest early move up the leaderboard when the British Masters resumed at Woburn on Friday.

Howell began the day seven shots off the pace after an opening level-par 71, but birdied the 10th - his opening hole - and 12th before holing his approach to the par-five 15th for an eagle.

That lifted the former Ryder Cup player to four under par and three behind compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick and Sweden's Robert Karlsson, with Ireland's Shane Lowry and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen on six under.

Fitzpatrick held a one-shot overnight lead after an opening 64 and doubled his advantage with a birdie on the 10th, but the 21-year-old bogeyed the 11th to drop back alongside former European number one Karlsson, who had birdied the 12th.

The British Masters was last played in 2008 but has returned to the European Tour schedule with Ian Poulter and fellow Englishmen Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose taking turns to act as tournament host at different venues.

Donald is considering options including The Grove in Hertfordshire or links courses in the south east of England, while Westwood favours Close House in the north east. Rose is understood to be in line to host the tournament at Walton Heath next year.

Donald and Poulter, who shot 67 and 68 respectively on Thursday, were among the later starters, while Westwood was one over par after five holes today and one under overall.

Source: PA