'Nice round with a few Irish lads': David Howard enjoys Open practice with Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington

NICE ROUND: David Howard in action. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

There were bound to be nerves as David Howard took his place at the The Open Championship driving range, sandwiched between Ludvig Aberg and Rory McIlory, and began preparing for his first practice round at a major.

Yet a booming drive straight down the first on his opening hole on Monday settled any jitters, a healthy sign ahead of the biggest week of the Fota Island amateur’s relatively short golfing career.

It is well documented now that the 27-year-old was a late starter in the sport due to having Cystic Fibrosis, a condition causing damage to the lungs, digestive system and other vital organs.

Howard, from Currabinny, Co. Cork, was playing Junior Cup golf just three years ago, unable to qualify for the Munster Stroke Play because his golf handicap was not low enough.

Which made settling into his groove so quickly on one of golf’s greatest stages was admirable.

Even more so given that it was in the company of playing partners and former Open champions Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington. Newly-minted British Amateur champion Stuart Grehan was also part of the fourball that played 18 holes at the start of the 154th Open week and the 2025 East of Ireland champion was grateful for the experience.

“A nice small practice round with a few Irish lads,” Howard said. “That was class.

“It was a good way to get a bit of a feeling for how it's going to be for the week. A bit of a crowd following, I'm guessing they're following Lowry and Harington, not myself!

“It was good to get the ball off the tee on the first. It was a good drive, so a bit of a settle the nerves a bit then, straight away. It's just good to chat to them. They're very nice and they obviously know Stuart well enough.

“It was a good fourball to set off the week.

“Harrington pulled me over for a chat. He gave me a few tips to enjoy the week and don't be too hard on yourself if it doesn't go to plan but the same time, you're here to win it. You're not just trying to enjoy it. You're here to win, but if it doesn't go to plan, still enjoy it. Enjoy the whole experience.

“It's a bit counter-intuitive, but that's my own mindset on it. I want to enjoy it, but I still want to do the best I can do for the week and see how it goes.”

While the galleries which followed the Irish fourball around the famous Lancashire links were primarily there to see perennial favourites Harrington and Lowry, Howard will have plenty of his own support as the week progresses with a large number from Fota Island Golf Club booking their tickets the moment their fellow member qualified at Scotland’s Dundonald Links on June 30.

“There's plenty coming over, in fairness. Plenty more coming. Yeah, I think the whole Ryanair flight is full tomorrow morning, so we'll have loads of local support, which is great.

“It's just surreal. It's mad. From not getting to the Munster Championship a few years ago to teeing up here with all the big top 100, 150 people in the world. It doesn't really make sense, to be honest. But here we are.”

Harrington’s advice will serve him well, it already seems to be as Howard said: “Just trying to take it all in, and at the same time, not just here to make up numbers. Just trying to do our best and see where it takes us at the end of the week.

“It's a class track. When I was looking at the flyovers, it looked a lot tighter. I got a feel for it yesterday and I like it. It suits the game. It's going to be a tough test for the week, for sure.

“It's not a bad spot to have your first Open.”