Howell - eagled the second. (Getty Images)

Having witnessed Tiger Woods' amazing charge at the Masters before lunch England's David Howell went out and earned himself a second trip to Augusta with a superb closing 69.

Joint leader with Ryder Cup teammate Luke Donald and American Chris DiMarco midway through the second round, Howell had fallen back to 21st with a 76 when he was paired with Woods.

But the 29-year-old from Swindon, little known in the United States, then had the first eagle of the week on the 575-yard second and after hitting trouble around Amen Corner at the start of the back nine had a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th.

The top 16 earn invitations to next year's tournament and with the leaders coming to the closing stretch Howell was in a tie for 12th - with fellow debutant Donald, who still had four holes to play, and France's Thomas Levet, another of his Ryder Cup teammates.

Then, however, Donald leapt to sixth by chipping in for eagle on the 15th. And since he had also made three on the 13th he became just the 10th player in Masters history to eagle both in the same round.

Howell refused to blame the intimidation of Woods for his third-round problems.

"I don't know that what Tiger was doing really affected me - it's better when someone is playing well with you," he commented. "I said to my caddie that we hadn't had a great day, but what an event to partner Tiger in.

"He is lovely to play with. He plays fantastic golf, but he still hit some poor shots and managed to hit miraculous ones afterwards."

Howell said: "I'm very pleased - my best finish in America, my best finish in a major. And I'm back next year. Brilliant.

"I feel like I've had a few years of experience in one week."

He sank a bunker shot for his eagle at the second and holed what he called an "impossible flop shot" for par on the 10th.