Johnston: I was in tears due to pressure
Psychologist helps ‘Beef’ after slump in form Englishman misses cut but Pepperell hits form
Andrew “Beef ” Johnston has revealed how he found himself crying alone in hotel rooms and unable to play competitive golf because of the fame and popularity that greeted his rapid rise as a global fan favourite.
The Englishman missed another cut at the Irish Open yesterday – courtesy of a seven-over total – but despite languishing at 324th in the world, after cracking the top 80 with eighth place at the 2016 Open, Johnston insists he is on the road to recovery since seeking professional help.
The 30-year-old’s despondency began to spiral late last year. “I came off the course on the Sunday at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and 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 cried,” he said.
“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 came off there and cried. I knew then that something wasn’t right.”
With life going so well outside the ropes – he became engaged to Jodie Valencia in December – Johnston was determined to press on. Yet after pulling out of tournaments on his way to the first tees at Perth and Qatar, the medics intervened, instructing him to take time away. “I wanted to compete – but I couldn’t,” Johnston said.
Johnston linked up with Ben Davies, the sports psychologist who works alongside famed psychiatrist Professor Steve Peters. Davies traced Johnston’s issues back to his success of three years ago, when he won in Spain and earned a card on the PGA Tour in America.
With his wide smile, trademark beard and portly frame, Johnston became a main draw at tournaments, with spectators even asking him to sign their foreheads. This cult status led to US sponsorship deals, including fast-food restaurant Arby’s. One of Johnston’s promotion stunts involved hitting a cheeseburger with a driver.
“I’m a normal geezer from Finchley,” he said. “Next thing, I see a poll over in America asking fans, ‘Who are you looking forward to seeing more?’ I finished above Tiger Woods. To get your head around that is very tough, and then came the pressure I put on myself to perform… I finished low twenties at the [2017] Open and I was fuming.
“The attention I got was just crazy. I want to take a picture with a kid, sign a ball and make their day, but it all happened so quickly. I enjoyed the crowds and would never change that. But when you throw someone into that, you don’t know how it will affect them. I didn’t realise the underlying pressure I was putting on myself.”
It was not just adulation Johnston received either. “I’ve been called a ‘fat f---’ a few times in the States, but you’ve got to have that bulletproof skin,” he said.
Johnston has not yet qualified for the Open at Portrush in two weeks and will need to win one of three spots on offer at next week’s Scottish Open. If he fails, Johnston can spend time with his fiancee, who it was announced this week is pregnant. “Best news ever,” Johnston posted on Instagram. “Can’t believe we’re having a baby [calf ]…”
In his absence, his friend Eddie Pepperell is in contention on eight under at Lahinch, standing one off the halfway lead set by South African Zander Lombard. Lee Westwood is a stroke further back.