BEEF: LIFE IS GOOD, MAN
BY EUAN McLEAN ANDREW JOHNSTON choked back the tears after his storming Scottish Open performance heralded another major step on the road to recovery from his mental health hell.
The Englishman – known and loved by golf fans as Beef – romped around The Renaissance in 62 shots to grab the clubhouse lead before overnight pacesetter Bernd Wiesberger had even teed off.
That last-day dash to 19 under par ultimately fell three shots short of claiming the title as Wiesberger prevailed after a play-off win against Benjamin Hebert.
But it was enough for the 30-year-old to grab one of three qualifying spots for next week’s Open at Royal Portrush.
Afterwards the Beef reflected on the tough times he’s come through since the pressure of his rapid rise to fame became too much for him.
In a bravely honest blog released last week he said: “I couldn’t even bring myself to go get my clubs from the locker. I just left them. I went straight back to the hotel and just cried.
“I nearly walked off the course at the Australian PGA Championship a few weeks later. I hit two bad shots and I couldn’t mentally handle it at all.
“I had no idea what was going on. I was so angry, so wound up, which is really unlike me. I came off and cried. I knew then that something wasn’t right.”
But after seeking help Johnston has found happiness again, engaged to his partner Jodie who is expecting their first child.
That contentment is reflected in his improving game and after yesterday’s superb finish Beef broke down as he reflected on just how far he has come.
He said: “I put far too much pressure on myself.
“When I came back from America and finished 20th at Wentworth, 20th at the French Open and 20something at The Open, I walked off disgusted at my performance. Now I see that’s madness. I didn’t even realise it was happening but I was slowly burning myself out, beating myself up for no reason. That’s what can happen if your perspective is not right.
“People have been amazing. Working with a psychologist has brought me back 100 per cent.
“He told me to take some time off and at the time I didn’t want to. But when I did things came to me which was good.
“I’ve had a great reaction from my blog post – but it’s the truth, you can’t go wrong with saying the truth.
“I’ve had some real nice comments from players who’ve said it’s helped them because they’ve had similar things.
“I want to do so well and win tournaments and the pressure I put myself under coming out of 2016 meant my expectations were way too high.
“After realising that a day like today is special because I got to five, six, seven under and realised I’m not fussed. I loved every minute of it.
“I thought Friday was a good day, shooting a low one and making the cut but to have a final day like that was special.
“Today was about enjoying golf again. I put no pressure on myself. I didn’t think about my score, position on the board or Open spots. I was happy out there enjoying myself.
“Life’s good, man, and even if golf doesn’t go too well I’ve got a great fiancee and a baby on the way.”
The other Open spots went to runner-up Hebert and Italian Nino Bertasio who joined Johnston in a tie for fourth.