David Howard, a 27-year-old amateur golfer from Ireland, has defied the odds to qualify for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, just weeks after driving past the venue with his father. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age seven, Howard takes up to 30 tablets daily to manage his condition, which has stabilised since the emergence of modulators seven years ago.
A life-changing diagnosis and early struggles
Howard's cystic fibrosis causes thick mucus buildup in his lungs and digestive system, leading to severe infections and difficulty absorbing nutrients. He discovered in his early teens that his life expectancy might be only to his mid-20s. 'It's mad to even look back and think about those days,' Howard told Metro. 'It's tough to think back to now, thinking back to probably the lowest moment of my life to now being past the mid-20s, playing good golf and living a bit of my dream.'
Pandemic psychosis and a new direction
The toughest period came during the coronavirus pandemic, when Howard isolated to avoid infection, spiralling into a manic episode and psychosis after ten days without food or sleep. He was hospitalised and unable to get out of bed for weeks. That experience led him to quit his job as an Audi mechanic and pursue golf full-time. 'After that kind of experience, and I suppose my whole life with CF and everything, I decided I didn't want to live any regrets down the line,' he said.
Breakthrough win and Open qualification
Howard won the 2025 East of Ireland Championship while sleeping in his car at County Louth. Despite considering a return to mechanics, he seized a late call-up to an Open final qualifying event at Dundonald Links, shooting 69 and 71 to finish joint second and secure his place at Birkdale. 'I haven't had much time to think about it properly, but it's going to be a great week,' he said. 'It's still hard to believe that I'll be playing in The Open, to be honest.'
Inspiring others with cystic fibrosis
Howard hopes his presence at The Open can inspire others with cystic fibrosis. 'Hopefully that they can look at me and see that they can achieve their goals and dream seriously to put their mind to,' he said. 'It just goes to show that it's not the end of the world, as bad as it can be.'
Dad on the bag, aiming for the Claret Jug
Howard turned down offers from tour caddies to keep his father on the bag. Despite facing the world's best, he is not lowering his expectations. 'I'm not there just to make up numbers,' he said. 'Let's aim for the Claret Jug and see where we go from there.'
