Beef relishes role as great entertainer
GROUP No 27 contained a former Open champion when it headed out just after 11.30am, but it was not 2004’ s surprise winner Todd Hamilton who received the largest cheer.
That was reserved for the modern golf phenomenon called Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston and before he smothered an opening drive in to the left rough — from where he would make par — the 28-year-old was part of a little bit of Open history.
It is hard to remember a golfer ever being introduced by the official starter by his nickname at this most traditional of tournaments, but that was the way of things yesterday morning.
‘I shook hands with the guy on the first tee and he said he was gonna just introduce me as “Beef Johnston” and not use my first name,’ he smiled after his 69. ‘I thought that was pretty cool, man.’
Johnston’s popularity among golf fans is not in doubt. A year since he first introduced himself to us by finishing eighth at Royal Troon, he was followed enthusiastically as he took advantage of improving conditions to play some productive golf on the back nine.
Certainly a one under par total that included a chip-in birdie three on the treacherous sixth and an eagle three on 17 leaves him handily placed after a day when he didn’t always strike the ball as well as he can.
But, what of his year on the course since last summer’s rise to prominence? How many marks out of ten?
‘I would say about six or seven,’ the Londoner said. ‘I haven’t played great. Just the last six weeks I have started to play nice. I have been grinding away really hard and hopefully over the last month I have turned a corner.
‘I have been looking forward to this since the day Troon finished and I really enjoyed it.’
It was not an exciting mornning at The Open. The poorr weather subdued the crowd and the golf. Johnston’s group, which also included the Canadian Adam Hadwin, managed one birdie between them in the first eight holes.
Still, though, Johnston’s s nickname was bellowed fromom the grandstands and from behind hind the ropes. Still, there were thumbsb up by way of return and the odd high-five given at the request of some spectators probably old enough to know better.
Watching on, it was hard not to wonder if the sideshow actually threatens to get in ththe way of the golf. Professiosional sport is not, after all, ddesigned to always make you ssmile. But Johnston said he wwouldn’t change it. ‘I have learned a hell of a lot in the last year and how to deal with it and manage my ttime better,’ he said. ‘But I can’t play with my heahead down all the time. I can’t be focusedfoc like that for five hours. It wouldld give me a headache after nine holes, seriously. ‘There is five minutes between shots so I switch off and if people shout I will wave and have a good time. That’s cool.’ So if big Beef wishes to carry on free wheeling, who are we to suggest he should be any other way?
His opening round came after dinner the night before with four American fans, who each won an all-expenses trip to The Open with a plus one.
‘They were competition winners,’ he explained. ‘We went for dinner in Liverpool and it was nice to meet them and chat to them. It’s relaxing.
‘I could have been sitting in my hotel room staring at my yardage book but that’s not me, is it?’
Johnston is first off the tee this morning at 6.35am, so perhaps he had an earlier evening last night.