Henrik keeps Mickelson in the shade at
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson shot a three-under-par 68 to overtake Phil Mickelson (inset) at The Open.
HE is affectionately known by the nickname “Beef”.
And Andrew Johnston was in rare form as he served up yet another meaty round at the Open.
Just two years ago, the Englishman was toiling on the Challenge Tour.
Today, he will tee off as top Brit at Royal Troon after a stunning 70 moved him to five under par for the tournament.
The likeable 27-year-old has a personality as oversized as his beard and is attracting a rapidly expanding following on tour.
And, whilst being grilled by the Press, he revealed that his heroics on day three moved his mother to tears. He said: “It has been amazing. “On 13, the chip-in, I walked over and I could see my mum crying, and that got me going a bit.
“I was like: ‘Oh my God. Don’t look at my mum. Please, go over there!’
“But it’s great. The reception from the crowds has been brilliant. That’s what you dream of.
“To have that is amazing. I just love it. I really do.”
Johnston’s affection is more than reciprocated by the crowds that have followed him around Royal Troon.
Great shots – and there have been plenty of those – are greeted by chants of “Beef” from the galleries. Sometimes bad ones get the same treatment. But amidst the distractions, Johnston, whose entire family is in Ayrshire lending their support, has kept his cool.
He said: “Once I’m playing a shot, it’s down to business, you know. The switch comes back on and then I concentrate.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen today a few people were shouting out as I was maybe walking up, or viewing a chip, and I don’t acknowledge that.
“But once I’ve hit the shot or I’m walking somewhere, I’m going to acknowledge it, man, because I don’t need to concentrate anymore.”
He warmed up for his first round by smashing beef burgers off the tee at the practice ground.
He prepared for his second by playing Top Trumps with his five-year-old niece, Summer.
Friday night was pizza night at the Johnston camp, with the man himself polishing off a modest 10-inch effort with little trouble.
But as happy-go-lucky as he clearly is, “Beef” is at The Open for one reason – to win – and it’s an objective he reckons he can fulfil.
“I won in Scotland on the Challenge Tour two years ago, so why not?” he said.
“If you come into tournaments, you have to believe you can go and do something.”