Standing in the heart of the 18th fairway with 184 yards left to the pin. David Howard had one shot to make the cut at the Open Championship and claim the low amateur Silver Medal in the most unlikely of circumstances. He couldn’t find the eagle he needed but it was quite the effort to make the cut.
In the end, Howard closed with a 69 to miss the cut by two shots at three-over-par. But he knows he could have got over the line. After a two-under front nine and a birdie on 11, with seven holes to play, including two par fives, he was plus two and needed to play the remaining holes in one-under to become the only amateur to make it to the weekend thus winning the Silver Medal. Two missed drives right on the par-5s 14 and 17 cost him dearly as he bogeyed 14 and made pars on the remainder.
He leaves with an under-par round in the Open Championship, a competition he came through regional and final qualifying for as an amateur who only took up the game seriously three years ago and who battles Cystic Fibrosis. Being here was a fairytale, but Howard dearly wanted to add another chapter.
“Yeah, it was great to have an under-par round in The Open championship, which is mad to think about. But yeah, a bit disappointed with the way I finished, but happy how I went at it today. Stayed really aggressive, hit driver on every hole and just disappointed with the finish, but great experience overall.
“I could see 1-over was kind of looking likely. Looking forward to them par-5s, but a couple loose drives, bad timing, got a bit quick and didn’t work out in the end, but yeah, it was a great day all around.”
But this doesn’t have to be the end to this great golfing and life story. It’s back to ordinary life next week for the Fota Island man who will play in the South of Ireland in Lahinch, a tournament that could be huge for his Walker Cup aspirations on top of his impressive display here.
Howard is keen to keep on the journey. The 154th Open has whetted his appetite to get back to the pinnacle of golf as an amateur and who knows, maybe even as a professional.
“This is definitely going to push me on to try and get back to this. This is where I want to be, and hopefully I can get back here. I want to get back here so bad. Definitely going to make me work harder and keep putting in the work to keep pushing on. Yeah, I just want to get back here so bad. It’s unbelievable.”
As for the week as a whole. Howard received roars from a packed Fota Island crowd that would rival any marquee group. Early birdies on the third and fifth to get to two-under for his round and breed hope of making the cut were given raucous cheers. He bounced back from back to back bogeys on the 6th and 7th with a birdie on the 8th before the birdie on 11 got everybody giddy.
Clutch par saves on the 12th and 13th kept the ball rolling but it just wasn’t to be.
“My first time at an Open, even as a spectator, so it was just unbelievable, everything. Even just being in the locker room with all the top players and in the gym with all the top players. I think I’m going to look at it back in a week’s time like, how was I there, to be honest. It’s like being in a dream. It’s been such a great week. The whole setup is unbelievable.
“Golfing sense, I played nowhere near my best golf and only missed the cut by two shots. I suppose there’s a lot to take from that and I suppose shows I’m well capable. Just need to put a bit more work and let’s see where we can go.
“I’d say there might have been a few tears. Everyone out there today are special people to me. I tried to hold myself back from getting emotional myself, and I’ll allow that to come out soon. But no, it was such a special few days, to be honest.”
The Silver medal hasn’t been won by an Irish player since Rory McIlroy in 2007 while the prize itself hasn’t been won since 2023 by Christo Lamprecht.
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