David Howard is still pinching himself after booking a place in the Open Championship, having wondered how much time he would have to fulfil some dreams in the sport.
The Corkman secured a golden ticket to this month’s tournament at Royal Birkdale by coming through an amateur qualifier on Monday.
An ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland as he attempts to forge a career in the sport, he has overcome so much in reaching Royal Birkdale since his diagnosis aged seven.
He said: “When I was aged 10 to 13, googling CF, the life expectancy was kind of mid-20s.
“To be here and do what I’m doing in my mid-20s, I was looking back to when I didn’t think I’d get this far.
“It’s mad, mad. So just credit to all the medical teams and my specific team in the CUH (Cork University Hospital).
“It’s just unbelievable what they do now and giving me the chance to live my dream.”
David Howard will compete in his first major
The morning after sealing his place in the major, Howard admitted he was still coming to terms with the achievement.
His rise has been also remarkable, winning the East of Ireland last year, having left behind a career as a mechanic.
“I only started playing Irish Championships three years ago. I couldn’t even get into the Munster Stroke Play in 2023, I think. So from not being able to get into that, to getting into the Open, it’s just hard to think about and it’s so fresh still.
“I pinched myself this morning when I woke up. I hoped I wasn’t dreaming. It’s hard to think and put into words.”
Howard’s caddie is his father, John, who travels with him to each event. Roles were reversed in the closing holes of the qualifier as the golfer was keeping his caddie cool in the scenario.
“I was keeping him calm,” he said with a smile.
“He was slightly more nervous than me, but he was very, very good in fairness to him. It’s class, we were in St Andrews there a few weeks ago, and that was a special moment, being there and playing with my dad and him caddying for me in the tournament. Qualifying for the Open tops it off.
“We got a camper van last year, so we travel around to most of the events in the camper van.
“So we’re putting plenty of miles on it. We were in Scotland a couple of times and in England. We’re getting on the ferry now back to Belfast (as I speak to you), four and a half hours there and back home to Cork.”
Howard paid a visit to the course recently in the hope of entering the British Amateur Championship but did not gain an entry.
He can now return, this time competing in a major tournament with his spot already sealed.
“I was over there a couple of weeks ago, and we passed Birkdale, so we actually popped in for a look and all the grandstands were up. I ended up being first reserve for the British Amateur, and I didn’t get in, I waited around all day.
“I have unfinished business, you could say. But I’d like to think I will put in the work in the next couple of weeks and just go over there and try to enjoy it. You try not to get too nervous.”