The 154th Open · Royal Birkdale · 16 to 19 July 2026
Cork amateur. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador. Qualifier for the 154th Open Championship.
First tee, Royal Birkdale
Final Qualifying · Dundonald Links · 30.06.2026
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | To par | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 04 under par | T2 |
Through to Royal Birkdale with two shots to spare, his father John on the bag.
36 holes · five places · 71 players · first reserve on the start sheet
David went undiagnosed for the first seven years of his life. His mother Eithna kept pushing, through specialists and second opinions, until the answer came back: cystic fibrosis. Childhood became hospital stays, missed school, and a routine of around thirty tablets a day.
At twelve he googled the condition and read a life expectancy of mid-twenties. He is twenty-seven now.
Golf started as pitch and putt with his father John and his brothers. In 2019 he beat his dad in the final of the Muskerry Junior Scratch Cup and sensed there might be more in it. For five years he worked as a mechanic at Audi Cork, then in 2023 he walked away to play full time.
Three years ago his handicap was not low enough for the Munster Strokeplay field. In 2025 he won the East of Ireland Championship at Baltray and earned his first Irish cap.
He reached Final Qualifying as first reserve, travelling to Scotland by ferry with John in the camper van they call the Wanderly Wagon. Two rounds later he was holding an Open pin flag. At Royal Birkdale he joins Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington in the field at the oldest championship in golf.
“My life expectancy was mid‑20s, so I’m past my due date.”
John on the bag. Eithna, who fought seven years for the answer. Michael and Jack, a PGA professional, in the crowd behind. Golf in this house was never a solo game.
Frames from the amateur circuit.
Years old, past the life expectancy he once read at twelve.
Tablets a day, between enzymes, modulators and vitamins.
Covered on the course for the 65 Roses challenge this spring.
Raised for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, two euro at a time per birdie.
The Wanderly Wagon route · Currabinny to Birkdale
2019
Beats his father John in the final. The first sign this could go somewhere.
2023
Walks away from five years as a mechanic to play amateur golf full time.
2024
Begins representing the community he grew up part of.
June 2025
The breakthrough at Baltray, followed by a first Irish international cap.
30 June 2026
In as first reserve. Rounds of 69 and 71 for four under, tied second, through with two to spare.
16 July 2026
Royal Birkdale, Southport. His major championship debut.
65 Roses
David has been a Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador since 2024. The mission is simple: show every child growing up with CF that anything is possible.
This spring he took on the 65 Roses challenge his own way, covering 65 kilometres on the golf course and pledging money for every birdie along the road. During Open week, every eye on David is an eye on the CF community.
Donate to CF IrelandCovered on the golf course for the 65 Roses challenge, documented round by round.
Raised for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland through the challenge this year.
Representing CF Ireland as ambassador, on the record and on the course.
One of the sports stories of the summer, already carried by RTÉ, the Irish Examiner and the Reuters wire worldwide. A partnership here backs the golf and the cause in the same breath.
Partner enquiriesAssociation with an Open Championship competitor during the biggest golf audience of the year.
The amateur who out-qualified professionals while living with cystic fibrosis. Earned, verified, and already global.
Every partnership carries the Cystic Fibrosis Ireland mission with it, on the record and on the course.
Press kit
Verified facts below. Bios at 50, 100 and 300 words, approved photography and interview requests through the press contact.
David Howard is a 27 year old amateur golfer from Currabinny, County Cork, and a Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador. The 2025 East of Ireland champion qualified for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, finishing tied second at Final Qualifying at Dundonald Links with his father John caddying.
David Howard is a 27 year old amateur golfer from Currabinny, County Cork, playing out of Fota Island Golf Club. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at seven, he worked five years as a mechanic at Audi Cork before leaving in 2023 to play full time. He won the 2025 East of Ireland Championship at Baltray and earned his first Irish cap. In as first reserve at Final Qualifying, he shot 69 and 71 at Dundonald Links to finish tied second and reach the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, travelling by ferry with his father John, who caddies, in a camper van they call the Wanderly Wagon. He has been a Cystic Fibrosis Ireland ambassador since 2024.
David Howard went undiagnosed for the first seven years of his life, until his mother Eithna's persistence produced the answer: cystic fibrosis. Childhood in Currabinny, County Cork became hospital stays, missed school and a routine of around thirty tablets a day. At twelve he googled the condition and read a life expectancy of mid-twenties. He is twenty-seven now, and about to play in the oldest championship in golf. Golf began as pitch and putt with his father John and his brothers, including Jack, a PGA professional. In 2019 he beat his dad in the final of the Muskerry Junior Scratch Cup. For five years he worked as a mechanic at Audi Cork, then in 2023 walked away to play amateur golf full time. Three years ago his handicap was not low enough for the Munster Strokeplay field. In June 2025 he won the East of Ireland Championship at Baltray and earned his first Irish international cap, with a Walker Cup place at Lahinch now in his sights. He reached Final Qualifying for The Open as first reserve after a playoff at The Island, travelling to Scotland by ferry with John, who caddies for him, in the camper van they call the Wanderly Wagon. At Dundonald Links on 30 June 2026 he shot rounds of 69 and 71 to finish four under and tied second, qualifying for the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale with two shots to spare. He joins Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington in the field. An ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland since 2024, he covered 65 kilometres on the golf course this spring for the 65 Roses challenge, raising thousands for the cause. His mission is simple: to show every child growing up with CF that anything is possible.
