Howell takes up the baton in Killarney

Golf:David Howell gave away 278 places to Rory McIlroy on the world rankings at the Irish Open in Killarney today but beat him by eight shots to storm into contention for a first victory in five years. The former Ryder Cup star reignited his career with a superb seven-under-par 64 in the windiest and wettest conditions of the week.

Playing partner McIlroy, the US Open champion and world number four, started with a double bogey and managed only a 72, the same as Graeme McDowell on his 32nd birthday. The two Irish stars were left deep in the pack on three under while Howell moved alongside Richard Green and Simon Dyson on 11 under par.

Peter Lawrie is the leading Irish challenger, the Dubliner well placed to make a move in the final round after his round of 70 moved him to seven under. Michael Hoey and Paul Cutler are one further back after level par rounds of 71.

Stephen Gallacher moved into fourth place, two shots behind, but halfway leader Marcel Siem double-bogeyed the 18th for a 73 and was joint fifth with defending champion Ross Fisher and Dane Soren Hansen three behind.

Howell, twice a Ryder Cup player before his slump, said: “I’ve not been in the best of form for quite some time, so I was intrigued how I was going to be playing with Rory. He’s the star of world golf, but there were no nerves and the crowds were amazing.

“I think I got inspiration from the big-time atmosphere. I did everything really well and it was great. I’ve given myself a chance — that’s the main thing — and I was delighted to hole a seven-footer (for par) on the last. Missing it would have been a sad way to end a flawless day.”

Howell reached ninth in the world after he beat Tiger Woods head-to-head in China and then had a runaway victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. But after winning a second Ryder Cup cap later that season his career went into freefall.

The 36-year-old stopped the rot when he was close to dropping outside the top 500 and has fought his way back to 282nd.

“I’m flying now — I must be one of the hottest players in the world,” he joked. “I’ve not been in the best of form, so I was intrigued how I was going to be playing with Rory. He’s the star of world golf.

“But there were no nerves and I think I was inspired by the atmosphere. The crowds were amazing.”

He also shot 64 on the opening day last year and commented: “They’re the best two rounds I’ve had in a year and three days.”

Only once has he scored better in his entire European Tour career.

While McIlroy had two shots on the beach by Lough Leane at the first, Howell parred the first four, then birdied the fifth and seventh to turn in 33 and had five more in a spectacular inward 31 as the weather turned worse.

McIlroy said: “It was not a great start, but I got it together at the end and one over is not too bad considering how I played at the start.”

McDowell stated: “I just missed too many fairways and was seriously cold on the greens. They have me seriously confused — I just can’t read them at all.”