JOHNSTON NOW PLAYING IT COOL
Covid has taught me to go with the flow says ‘Beef’
ANDREW ‘Beef’ Johnston has claimed his “life lessons” from lockdown have been to learn to “just take your foot off”.
And the popular Londoner said he is “100 percent proud” of his progress with his mental health over the past year.
Last August, Johnston walked off after only nine holes of the Betfred British Masters and admitted he could not cope with the strict bio-secure bubble.
Yesterday, in the same event at The Belfry, the world No.237 started his second nine with three consecutive birdies to shoot a one-under 71.
“That really caught me off guard last year,” he said. “I didn’t think it would get to the point where we can’t even swap cards at the start. I am used to this now.
“I’m 100 percent proud of what I’ve done in the past year.
“I was struggling to get on the golf course at one point with the amount of pressure I put on myself – I’ve got to win this, I’ve got to win that.
“I said, ‘Calm down’. This is how I play golf now – hit it, find it, hit it again. If I come off shooting 60 great, come off shooting 80, who cares? I have taken that approach to it.
“I was holing a lot of putts for par today but I was like, ‘If I miss so what?’ You have to keep it light and not get into a situation where you are punching yourself in the face.”
Johnston has overcome the challenges he has faced so far this year. He had to pull out in Abu Dhabi after being a contact case despite passing five Covid tests – then could not play in Austria after two of his coronavirus tests went ‘missing’.
“That seemed crazy but I had this interesting thing in my head – there’s no point stressing about it,” he explained. “There have been some real valuable life lessons from Covid – just take your foot off. I am in a good place. The more understanding I have, the better I am. Perspective is key and if I do have a problem the first person I tell is my missus.”
Johnston, right, has spoken about how his partner Jodie and his baby daughter Harley Noelle have helped him and he has missed them due to travelling restrictions. But the Arsenal fan said he has benefited from staying off social media. “Blow it up,” he said. “I see people get abused for no reason and it’s crazy.” Speaking in Mental Health Awareness Week, Johnston added: “The first thing to do if you are struggling is to speak to someone, get it off your chest and then come up with a plan, speak to the doctor.
“If you are not happy come away from a few events. If I’m not happy, that’s what I will do. You have to do what’s right for you sometimes. “I’m open to anyone who wants to have a chat.” Austrian Matthias Schwab, on 66, leads by one shot from Calum Hill. His fellow Scot Bob MacIntyre opened with a 71 while event host Danny Willett carded a 69 after bogeying the final hole.