'A special few days'

David Howard overcame unimaginable hurdles to compete in The 154th Open. Now the inspirational Irishman is determined to ensure the experience is not a one-off.

Howard, who came through Final Qualifying at Dundonald to make his debut at golf’s original championship, lives with cystic fibrosis, a rare inherited genetic condition which can lead to a build-up of thick, sticky mucus and causes breathing and digestive problems.

The 27-year-old is an ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, who he represented through a purple rose on his playing cap, and has used his platform at Royal Birkdale to show others in his position what is possible.

“I was diagnosed at the age of seven and it has been a journey since then with a lot of tough times,” he said.

“But since Vertex brought out a new drug in 2018, it has been life-changing and I have been able to follow my dreams. To be here is mad.

“I’m getting a good few messages from people with CF or family members with CF, which is great to see, and I met a kid with CF from Ireland, which was great – we obviously had to keep our distance but I gave him a nice hat.

“We are all determined people with CF. It’s a tough journey, it’s a lonely enough disease as you can’t shake their hand or anything like that.

“But I want to show them anything is possible and the new medication is unbelievable. Keep fighting and keep pushing on.”

On the course, Howard more than held his own alongside the world’s best. He started with a four-over-par 74 before finding his groove on Friday.

A birdie at the 11th was his fourth of the day and took him to +2, within sight of the cut line. Howard ultimately missed out, dropping a shot at 14 to finish three-over for his week, but took heart from his display.

“It was great to have an under-par round in The Open, which is mad to think about,” he said.

“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. I just need to put a bit more work and let's see where we can go.

“It is 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 set-up is unbelievable.

“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.”

Howard has booked a ferry home for Monday and will stay through the weekend to soak up every last minute of his maiden Open.

With knowledge of his story gaining traction over the course of the practice days, Howard was well supported throughout his two rounds.

And plenty of familiar faces helped ensure the experience can be filed firmly in the unforgettable category.

“The support out there is unbelievable,” he said. “I can't thank them all enough.

“I'd say the Ryanair flight on Wednesday was just people coming here to watch me!

“There might have been a few tears. Everyone out there are special people to me.

“I tried to hold myself back from getting emotional myself, and I'll allow that to come out soon. It was such a special few days.”