England’s David Howell celebrated his 500th European Tour event with a one over par 72 on the opening day of the French Open.

Howell was met around his round by European Tour Director of International Policy, Keith Waters and presented with a commemorative ice bucket, and also a day after he led his Pro Am team to victory on the National course here in the outskirts of Versailles.

However there was some confusion in fact when Howell did compete first on the European Tour and with the five time European winner citing the 1994 Benson and Hedges Open at St. Melion.

But then Howell believed it to be the Dimension Data Pro-Am in South Africa but then that event was only co-sanctioned with the European Tour in 1996 and 1997.

“I always thought was the Dimension Data Pro-Am or maybe it was at Houghton,” he said.

David Howell celebrates his 500th Tour event with Keith Waters presenting him with a commemorative ice bucket. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“But then if it was the Benson and Hedges I was still an amateur, as I had won the British Boys Championship and that what a thrill itself and I played with Jose Maria Olazabal in the Pro-Am and I think it was just two weeks after he had won his first Masters.

“My first-ever Tour event was the South African Open”.

And when asked by www.golfbytourmiss.com if the David Howell who teed up this week in France is any different to the 21-year old who traveled in 1994 to South Africa.

“The David Howell who teed up back then is pretty similar to what you see now and that’s good looking, funny, charming and modest,” he said smiling.

“Though when I first started off I didn’t think I would be standing here having played 500 European Tour events as you are just happy to play the first year and it just then rolls into another year and so on.

“But then when you look at the likes of Sam Torrance who has been out here for years and has played a lot more than 500 and all you can do is hope that you can enjoy a long, long career like his.

“Though there is no guarantees is there?

“So really it comes as a bit of a shock to have now played 500 tournaments as it’s not a figure you keep adding up but then I realized late last year I was getting close.

“But then I am still playing well including having that great win at the Dunhill Links last year, so there is no reason why I can’t have many, many more good years in the years ahead.”