Howard Gets Off the Drink and Onto the Leaderboard

In 1982, Barclay Howard watched Tom Watson win the British Open at Royal Troon on television. At least Howard thinks he did. He was so drunk, he can’t actually remember.

Howard, 44, from Johnstone, Scotland, one of seven amateurs in the British Open, shot a one-under-par 70 Thursday and is three shots behind the leaders.

That’s quite a distance from where he found himself a few years ago, when they took his life membership away at Cochrane Castle Golf Club. Howard said he got drunk and insulted club members, so they kicked him out.

Drinking, he said, just about ruined him.

“I changed from a pleasant guy to an idiot,” he said.

The Scottish stroke-play champion and a Walker Cup member, Howard regularly attends meetings for recovering alcoholics.

“I know if I drink, I can’t play golf,” he said. “That’s the bottom line. I don’t wake up in the morning worrying if I offended someone the night before.”

Through nine holes, Howard was tied for the lead. Even though he slipped at the end, Howard still is top Scot. He beat the 76 posted by local favorite Colin Montgomerie.

Howard qualified with a 136 at Bogside. It was the first time he had tried to qualify since he failed in 1982.

Howard doesn’t know if his good luck is going to continue and isn’t sure if he really cares. Right now, he said he just wants to enjoy the moment.

There haven’t been all that many to enjoy, he said. Drinking cost him his last marriage, and he is now with his third wife. When he isn’t playing golf, he works as a customer service representative for a golf club manufacturer.

Right now, Howard said he has enough.

“I know tomorrow is another day,” he said. “I’m just thriving at this moment. I know tomorrow you’ll probably have someone else up here. I’m just so happy I am here today. I’ll just keep knocking along and hope for the best.”