Johnston victory would Beef up interest in golf
The British Open has come to the land of leprechauns, so here’s hoping golf’s oldest major championship produces some sprite-like magic in Northern Ireland.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t
look promising.
There could be magic, all right. Tiger could win his second major of the season to pull within two of tying Jack’s record of 18. Brooks Koepka could muscle his way to a fourth win in his last seven majors. Jordan Spieth could resurrect his game and return to being Kid Terrific.
All are entertaining story lines, but mostly what golf
needs this week is a champion with impish charm, who is more rambunctious than robotic. Someone like John Daly. At this point, even a Phil Mickelson would do. Someone quirky who leans counterculture, or at least comes off less cookie cutter than the usual crowd of carefully crafted professionals.
The PGA Tour is deeper in talent than ever. It also is deeper in corporate types. I mention Mickelson only because for all his effort to enhance his image he lets down his hair just enough to reveal a real eccentric behind the rehearsed smile.
Still, in a perfect world, I would prefer a different winner than Lefty. And I’ll likely get it. Mickelson, as well as Woods, Koepka and Spieth, probably come up empty. Woods is wired more for the Masters, where his intimate course knowledge makes up for his aging inability to string together four fantastic rounds. Koepka is the real deal, but golf being the great humbler, I don’t see him beating the odds by winning a fifth major championship, which would tie him with such luminaries as Byron Nelson, Seve Ballesteros and Mickelson. Spieth remains something of a mental mess.
Who does that leave as a dynamic personality? Fans point to Rickie Fowler. While agreeable and polite, Fowler’s public persona is too commercially choreographed to supply the kind of authentic goofiness the game needs this week at Royal Portrush, which is hosting the Open Championship for the first time since 1951 (which is also the last time it was played outside Great Britain.)
There is Matt Kuchar, who at age 41 is still seeking his first win in a grand slam event (he ranks with Andrew “Beef” Johnston is just the type of character who could give golf a lift by winning the British Open.
Fowler as the two best players never to win a major). Kooch has goofy down pat; his 24/7 smile honestly creeps me out. But otherwise there’s just not much behind the Howdy Doody mask to warrant picking him as a winner who will energize golf.
Spaniard Jon Rahm runs hot, which always makes for visual theater when bad things happen to him, but lacks a compelling backstory to move the interest meter. Ditto Bubba Watson, who brings a shiny object syndrome kind of energy, but is not universally likable. Rory? Too unpredictable. DJ? Not enough going on up there.
We need a name with insane game who also can be inanely amusing. It’s a short list that fits those requirements, but Ian Poulter comes close. The Englishman is both mercurial and madly in love with himself. Bold and cocky, he would be a worthy winner.
But my pick is another Englishman: Andrew “Beef” Johnston. Beef checks every box, and his fourth-place finish at the Scottish Open on Sunday shows he has relocated his game following a traumatic year when he struggled mentally and personally while dealing with his sudden rise to stardom.
Johnston is thoroughly human, except for the leprechaun’s beard. A win by him this week and golf would find its pot of gold. I’m pulling for Beef.