The story of David Howard from a golfing perspective is inspirational in itself. When you factor in the health issues he tackles daily, his journey to the 154th Open Championship is nothing short of remarkable.
Three years ago the Cork man wasn’t good enough to qualify for Irish championships. Even last month he couldn’t get in to the Amateur Championship just up the road in Hoylake. His World Amateur Golf Ranking of 1441 shows the enormity of his achievement in coming through qualifying for this week’s Open. But there is so much more to this story than just a number.
It is the life aspect of Howard’s story which has garnered so much attention since he sealed his passage to Royal Birkdale via the final qualifier in Dundonald. He is proud to carry that story, hence the purple cystic fibrosis rose pinned to his hat which he will wear all week here.
“It has been a rollercoaster journey,” smiles Howard who has to take up to 30 pills a day to keep himself fit enough to compete but more importantly healthy to fight off the high risk of infection. He also has a 99% lung function.
“From getting diagnosed at 7 to googling CF at thirteen to see life expectancy is mid-20s to then Covid and having manic psychosis there to getting out the other end of that, qualifying as a mechanic and then playing championship golf the last three years, winning my first Irish championship last year and now here we are at The Open. It’s mad.”
Howard didn’t think he would live to see his current age of 27. Having only taken up golf seriously in his late teens, he is bursting with the enthusiasm that every young teenager has for the game. Perhaps it was because he simply wasn’t well enough in his teenage years to play the game that he carries this unwavering love for the game.
PGA champion Aaron Rai is the undisputed nicest man in the game, but should we get to know Howard further on a global scale, he may rival the Englishman. The Fota Island star just cannot say no, whether it be to interacting with the junior members in the club or donning the team colours. Last week he played three days of interprovincial matches for the victorious Munster team before representing Fota in the Barton Shield.
At the moment, the 2025 East of Ireland winner is like a kid in a sweetshop. He played eighteen holes on the Monday practice day at Birkdale, nine of which were with Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry.
“It’s been crazy! Haven’t had much time to think over the last few days between playing Interpros and Barton Shield for the club. It has been incredible, non stop with all the messages and media stuff but it’s been great. Had a great day with Harrington, Lowry and Stuart Grehan. Dreamland.
“It’s a bit different going from that to here. I was happy to represent Munster and we got the win, first time in eight years, then had to represent the club on Saturday, what a great club and happy to do my part for them.”
Howard is running on pure adrenaline at the moment, but there will be moments that are tough, whether it be fatigue, the nerves, a dodgy bounce into the fescue or up the face of a bunker. It’s all part of the Open experience of which he feels prepared for.
“It’s going to be tough mentally for the week but I have been working with psychologist Shannon Burke back home and that has definitely been helping with the Irish championships and things like that. Getting the win last year helped with that, it was huge. I try to use the strategies I have been working on and hopefully I can get into my own bubble and stick to one shot at a time.”
Irish golf has a special relationship with Birkdale. Harrington’s 2008 Claret Jug defence is the standout memory while Brian McElhinney clinched the Amateur Champisonhip here in 2005 and Jimmy Bruen in 1946. Seven hopefuls will tee it up looking for more success on this links.
For Howard and Stuart Grehan, Birkdale seems a great place to come for an Irish amateur. Most of the Irish championship season revolves around links courses, preparation which is usually done in conditions much worse than the near 30 degree heat that will be given this week.
This is Howard’s first Open experience as a spectator or player. As for Birkdale he used flyovers and indoor simulators to prepare over the last fortnight. But now that he has played 18 holes on the real track, he likes what he sees.
“It’s friendly off the tee compared to what I was looking at on flyovers. I think you can open the shoulders with the driver and use my distance to my advantage. My strength would be off the tee anyway and hopefully that all goes to plan, making a few putts would be nice. It’s a great golf course, great test. You have to hit it well, I ripped driver and ripped 2-iron to the last and didn’t get to the green. So it’s tough.”
The low amateur silver medal hasn’t been won by an Irishman since a certain Rory McIlroy claimed it in Carnoustie in 2007 as part of an Irish double with Harrington. Hopes should be high that the feat could be achieved again on Sunday evening. Grehan is quietly confident, while Howard has reached the pinnacle of golf on his remarkable journey.
Now, he wants his golf to do the talking.
“I’m not here to make up numbers. I will try treat this as another tournament and go through my normal routine, add it up at the end and see where it leaves me. I am not aiming to make the cut or silver medal, just to do the best I can and see where I am at the end of the week.”
Leave a comment