BACK ON COURSE
Beef reveals how he’s now winning his mental health battles and says: I was struggling but now if I shoot 60 or 80 so what? I won’t go back to a situation where I’m punching myself in the face
ANDREW JOHNSTON claimed his “life lessons” from lockdown have been to learn to “just take your foot off”.
And the golfer dubbed ‘Beef ’ is “100 per cent proud” of progress over the last year with his mental health issues.
Last August, Johnston, 32, walked off after only nine holes of the Betfred British Masters admitting 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 first-round one-under-par 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 per cent proud of what I’ve done in the last year.
“I was struggling to get on the golf course at one point with the amount of pressure I put on myself.
“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 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 a number of challenges this year.
He had to withdraw 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’. Johnston added: “That seemed crazy
but I had this interesting thing in my head – there’s no point stressing about it.
“There have been some real valuable life lessons from Covid – just take your foot off.
“I am in a good place. Perspective is key and if I do have a problem the first person I tell is my missus.”
Johnston has spoken about how his partner, Jodie, and baby daughter, Harley Noelle, have helped him.
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. That’s what I will do. I’ve had a few players come up and message me. I’m open to anyone who wants to have a chat.”
Austrian Matthias Schwab, fired a 66 to lead Scot Calum Hill by one shot. Bob MacIntyre opened with a 71 while tournament host Danny Willett (left) carded a 69.