Out of the Rough - Booze, Birdies and a Driving Ambition - The Story of Barclay Howard (Hardcover)

Barclay Howard could hardly see for the tears of pride in his eyes as he lined up his putt on the final green of the Open at Troon. The jovial Scot had won the coveted Silver Medal for the championship's leading amateur - but it was the extraordinary story behind his triumph which gained him worldwide fame. Barclay Howard overcame years of alcoholism and a ban from the game he loved to reach the pinnacle of his career. "It was the greatest moment of my life", he admitted. Finally, after years of battling his demons, he was on top of the world - but that world was about to be cruelly torn apart yet again. Just six weeks after those incredible four days at Troon he was diagnosed with leukaemia. In the months that followed, the pain from his chemotherapy treatment became so great he even begged his sister to help him die. With the love and help of his wife and young daughter though, he has now beaten a second killer illness and has his eyes set on another crack at Open glory. In "Out of the Rough", Barclay describes with humour and honesty, the highs and lows of his life on and off the course - as well as in and out of the bar. His story is both terrifying and heart warming, but first and foremost it is a tale of human courage.