Try as he might to knuckle down and get back to the day job, Andrew Johnston could not practise for longer than five minutes on Tuesday morning without a fellow player offering a handshake or a backslap following his breakthrough victory at Valderrama.
This week’s Trophée Hassan II in Rabat marks Johnston’s first outing as a fully paid-up member of the European Tour winners’ club and, judging by his recent posts on social media, the man affectionately known as 'Beef' has certainly been enjoying the limelight.
Reflecting on the past two weeks, Johnston said: “It’s been really busy, the first week went so quickly. I flew back from Spain on the Monday and popped into my home club that night to see a few of my mates. They put a massive banner up outside the golf club, and I nearly crashed the car when I saw it.
"We had such a good night though. Then the next morning we went to my favourite café and had a few bacon sandwiches to aid the recovery." Andrew Johnston
“We had the big party at the club on the Friday, which was so good. I couldn’t believe how many people turned up, it was such a laugh and a great event. I was also lucky enough to get invited into the Arsenal directors' box thanks to a member at the club. I had to go and get a few bits for that because I didn’t have a suit. I also had to go and get a haircut and get the beard trimmed so I looked kind of presentable.”
With his sunny disposition and permanent smile, Johnston has always been popular among his peers, but since his win – and that now infamous TV interview – the wider world is also starting to take a shine to the gregarious Englishman.
Indeed, as far away as America, Johnston has become something of a minor celebrity, with the Golf Channel in America hailing his refreshingly candid and down-to-earth approach to his profession and life in general.
But while Johnston’s disarming nature is all part of his appeal, behind the jokey exterior there lies a steely determination to maximise his potential and build on his success.
He said: “I’m still getting flashbacks and good vibes from the week in Spain, and everyone has come up and said 'well done', but I’ve got to move on and try to do it again. I have to knuckle down and keep going.
“My win hasn’t changed anything in terms of my game. There are so many good players out here, so you’ve just got to just keep working hard and build on it. I’ve got to use the win as a stepping stone, and not slack off.
"I think, if anything, it almost puts more pressure on me to do it again. Winning once is hard enough, but it’s probably even harder to win again so you’ve got to prove to yourself and others you can do it.”
