This British Open amateur is a qualified mechanic with cystic fibrosis. He's proving an inspiration

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — David Howard was aged 7 when he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. By the time he was a teenager — well before recent medical advances for this rare genetic condition — he’d found out via internet searches he wasn’t expected to live beyond his mid-20s.

Imagine, then, how blessed this Irishman, now 27, feels to be walking the sun-kissed fairways of Royal Birkdale this week and about to take on the best golfers in the world at the British Open.

“Here I am, as healthy as ever and playing at the Open. It’s just nuts,” Howard said with a smile at the back of the 18th green after his first practice round, in the company of former champions Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry. “Yeah, I’d like to think I’m an inspiration.”

Being a qualified mechanic and No. 1,456 in the world amateur rankings ensures Howard, who came through one of four local qualifying events to take his place in golf’s oldest major, is no normal British Open participant.

Also making him different is what he packs in his golf bag for each round: As important as his clubs is his medication, with Howard taking up to 30 tablets a day to prevent infection and help digest food properly.

Cystic fibrosis causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the body, which can lead to damage, blockages and infections in the lungs and other affected organs.

There’s no cure for this condition that requires life-long care, but new treatments can manage symptoms and have given Howard a new lease of life.

He doesn’t hide away from his previous struggles. Like turning to alcohol in his late teenage years when thinking he "wasn’t going to be here much longer” or what he described as “manic episodes and psychosis” during the pandemic when he couldn’t get out of bed or talk to anyone for weeks.

Now, he has gotten his life together. He decided to stop working as a mechanic at the end of 2023 — he still dabbles in it, mainly fixing his family members’ cars — and focus full-time on golf.

That comes with its health benefits, too.

“As a mechanic, working in dusty garages probably wasn’t ideal for me,” Howard said. “Being in the fresh air, around the coastlines with salty air, it’s really good. Hot weather is also good for CF, but there’s just a few things you need to keep on top of.”

He takes digestive enzymes every time he eats to break down fatty foods, so plenty of them will be needed for each round at Birkdale, where his caddie will be his father, John. The cystic fibrosis unit in his local hospital in Cork, Ireland, gives him a daily plan and advice.

Howard can still get sick, especially after flights, but instead of being hospitalized two or three times a year, he now can get by with a two-week course of antibiotics.

“It’s great we are living longer with CF compared to before,” he said. “Loads of positives to take from it — living adulthood is the next challenge, but that’s a great thing to have to worry about.”

It’s clear Howard cannot believe the position he has found himself in as he embarks on a golfing career that has already seen him win the East of Ireland championship and represent Ireland in home internationals. He will attend qualifying school later this year in an attempt to become a professional on the European tour.

Since qualifying for the Open last month, Howard has been contacted by kids with cystic fibrosis and their parents, who have said they are using him as “someone to look up to.”

“It’s a big thing,” he said. “Growing up with CF, it’s a lonely enough thing — you don’t meet other people with CF and really chat to them about it. So you’re figuring it out all on your own.

“It’s good to show that not everything is negative and there are positives to take from it. That you can follow your dreams and get at it.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Ireland's David Howard lines on the 16th green during a practice round at the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England, Monday, July 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's David Howard lines on the 16th green during a practice round at the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England, Monday, July 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's David Howard attends a practice round at the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England, Monday, July 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland's David Howard attends a practice round at the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England, Monday, July 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

New Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri is confident of successfully following in Antonio Conte’s footsteps.

After all, he's done it before.

Allegri replaced Conte at Juventus in 2014, after Conte steered the Bianconeri to three Serie A titles. Allegri went on to win five straight at Juventus as well as guiding the team to four Italian Cup titles and two Champions League finals.

Conte left Napoli in May after two years in charge, during which his team finished first and second in the Italian league. Allegri, who was fired by AC Milan at the end of the season, was confirmed as his successor at the beginning of July and was given a three-year contract.

“I am inheriting a squad that is certainly accustomed to hard work,” Allegri said on Tuesday, in his first press conference as Napoli coach. “Conte has proven his worth throughout his career. I’m lucky, this is actually the second time I’ve inherited Antonio’s team — let’s hope it’s a good omen.

“It will be important to work with seriousness and professionalism, and above all to lay the groundwork for reaching March — as I always say that’s when seasons are decided — still in contention for all our objectives: Serie A, the Champions League, the Italian Cup.”

Allegri was fired by Milan after what the club’s owners deemed “an unequivocal failure” of a season. Despite spending much of the campaign in the top two positions and fighting for the title, a run of only two wins in Milan’s last eight matches dropped it to fifth on the last day of the season.

“It’s not a question of redemption; sometimes seasons just end a certain way. I’m disappointed by how things turned out last season,” Allegri said. “We were in the top three from Matchday 2 through Matchday 37; we only dropped out on the first and last matchdays, and the last one is the one that counts.

“I’m disappointed because, in all my time coaching — at Juventus and Milan — this was the first time I’ve finished outside the top four. And I won’t deny that it’s weighed on me.”

Milan replaced Allegri with Ruben Amorim, and at the Portuguese coach’s presentation team owner Gerry Cardinale referred to him as a coach who plays to win, rather than playing not to lose.

“I absolutely do not comment on the ownership’s words,” Allegri said. “I can only thank those who supported me all season.

“Then, unfortunately, we are sorry for the missed objectives, but another year begins, beautiful to experience, we have three competitions and we start with great enthusiasm.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE -AC Milan's head coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Cagliari, in Milan, Italy, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

The new SSC Napoli coach, Massimiliano Allegri, left, holds a club's jersey with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, during a presentation press conference at the San Carlo Theater, in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

The new SSC Napoli coach, Massimiliano Allegri, left, pictured with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, during a press conference at the San Carlo Theater, in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

The new SSC Napoli coach, Massimiliano Allegri, right, holds a club's jersey with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, during a presentation press conference at the San Carlo Theater, in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)