{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/625951970717a900130b94a8/6a494051ecd1239143b21a61?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Ep.210: David Howard on Counting Down to Birkdale ","description":"<p>This is Open week and on PaddyTalks Golf, we sit down with amateur golfer David Howard just weeks after he qualified for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. A mechanic by trade until eighteen months ago, David has since won the 2025 East of Ireland Championship at Baltray and battled through Final Qualifying at Dundonald to book his place among the world's best.</p><p>We talk about the road to Dundonald, his father caddying for him, growing up in Cork, the realities of living with cystic fibrosis while chasing a career in professional golf, the strong Irish contingent heading to Birkdale alongside him, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Tom McKibbin and Stuart Grehan and, as always, we close things out with the Candle-Lit Dinner scenario!</p><p>This episode also means something personal to us. Cystic fibrosis has touched our own family, and we'd ask you to take two minutes today to support the incredible work being done in this space.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.cfireland.ie/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.cfireland.ie/</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>David's road to Final Qualifying and the story behind that trip to Dundonald</li><li>His father on the bag and heading into Birkdale</li><li>Living with cystic fibrosis the daily reality, and preparing for a major championship week</li><li>The Irish contingent at Royal Birkdale, and what it means to share a locker room with them</li><li>The Candle-Lit Dinner and David's dream dinner guest list</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Follow David here: </strong>https://www.instagram.com/davidhowardgolf</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Support &amp; Links:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Donate to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland: <a href=\"https://www.cfireland.ie/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.cfireland.ie/</a></li><li>Learn more about TLC4CF: https://www.cfireland.ie/about-us/tlc4cf</li></ul><p><br></p><p>PaddyTalks Golf is powered by ForeGolf Custom, book your tour level custom fitting experience here: http://foregolf.ie/booking</p><p><br></p>","author_name":"PaddyTalks Golf"}