PRACTICE does not always make perfect. Just ask David Howell.

The Broome Manor pro skipped last week’s Madrid Masters to hone his game for the BMW Championship at his adopted home course of Wentworth but the extra coaching did not prove a complete success as swing issues hampered his long game on the way to a gritty level-par round of 71.

Howell, who won the biggest title of his career here in 2006, had his ever-reliable putter to thank for keeping him in the top third of the standings after the opening round.

He told the Advertiser: “I didn’t play very well to be honest with you.

“I putted beautifully and my short game was as good as ever but, as usual, how well I do depends on how well I hit the ball.

“I have been playing well for the last six weeks or so but I had a break last week and we worked on the swing a little bit and if anything it’s gone backwards which is frustrating. Everything is two steps forward one step back at the moment.”

As one of the early starters, Howell’s name was up on the leaderboard as birdies at four and seven moved him to two under par. He dropped one of those shots at the next before an erratic run of birdie, bogey, bogey, birdie from the 11th left him one under approaching the final two holes - both inviting par fives - at one under.

But Howell was unable to sink a makeable birdie putt on 17 and then bogeyed the last to finish at level par for the day.

“It was a decent score,” said Howell. “It’s a hard course, but it won’t play any easier than it did today - There was no wind and it’s only going to get firmer on the fairways.

“If I were a betting man I’d say the cut will be about one over.”

One man who won’t be looking that far over his shoulder is Danny Willett He marked his debut in the European Tour's showpiece event with a nine-birdie 65 to set the clubhouse target.

Other big names rubbing shoulders with Howell include world number three Lee Westwood and defending champion Paul Casey who shot 70s, Padraig Harrington (71), three-time winner Colin Montgomerie (73) and Ian Poulter (78).

As for Ernie Els, the man whose redesign of the par-five 18th with club owner Richard Caring has caused such a stir, he was among those who went in the controversial new ditch in front of the green.

Els was joint leader at the time - Willett had still to birdie the last three holes - but despite taking a bogey six and throwing a second ball into the water in annoyance, the South African soon realised a 69 had kept his title hopes very much alive.

Willett led by a stroke from fellow Englishman Steve Webster and Australian left-hander Richard Green.