BEEF CARROTS
Johnston gets juices flowing as he looks to roast his Wentworth rivals and serve up a double helping of PGA glory and a ticket to the US Open
ANDREW JOHNSTON has ordered a double helping of winning the BMW PGA and qualifying for the US Open this weekend – so he can stay in bed on Monday.
other side of the Atlantic he has only one top 10 in nine events this year.
“I miss home a bit – it has been difficult out there,” admitted the Arsenal fan. “My coach Alan Thompson is based in England so I am not seeing him as much and I have fallen
The bearded Londoner, sponsored in the USA by a fast-food chain thanks to his ‘Beef ’ nickname, has enjoyed his usual raucous reception at Wentworth in his first event back home this year.
But the star of last year’s Open has struggled on the PGA Tour this season and slid down to world No.119.
He is planning to play US Open qualifying at Walton Heath on Monday – unless he serves up the biggest win of his career on home soil tomorrow.
‘Beef’, who is four shots behind leaders Scott Jamieson, Thomas Pieters (right, top) and Francesco Molinari after his secondround 68, said: “Winning at home here would be massive. I want to play all the home events because the support is so amazing. The fans are so good – it would mean everything.
“I am planning to go to US Open qualifying on Monday, but winning here I would be able to have a nice relaxing day in bed instead. That would be good.”
Johnston leapt to fame at Wentworth in 2015 when he aced the 10th to win a BMW M4 – and chest-bumped a friend in celebration. But on the back into bad habits. I saw him last week and had good practice with him and it has already made the difference. “I have learned that if you want to go and play there, you need to move everything across. Next season? I haven’t even made a decision about what I am going to do in the run-up to the Open yet, let alone next year!”
Lee Westwood is two off the lead after his steady 69 saw only one bogey. “I’ve played patient golf and sensible golf in really big tournament golf,” he said. “I’ve approached it like a Major championship.”
He is level with Open champion Henrik Stenson (left, bottom) and Branden Grace on five-under par. The South African, who was criticised on Twitter by Danny Willett for getting a free drop from a bunker in the first round, admitted: “With seeing what people said about it there is a little bit of regret – it did play on my mind a bit this morning.”
Ian Poulter (left, middle) hopes his mood is lifted by the Gunners in the FA Cup Final after needing 34 putts in his round of 69 after hitting 17 greens in regulation. “My putting was absolutely shocking, unacceptable, pathetic,” he said.