Andrew Johnston is not someone to mince his words. The man known globally to golf fans as ‘Beef’ has become as popular for his direct, down-to-earth personality as his undoubted playing abilities which secured him a maiden European Tour title earlier this year.
The Englishman topped the Challenge Tour Rankings just two years ago and knows better than most the emotions and nerves in play as the Road to Oman reaches its conclusion with this week’s NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
After four tense rounds at the spectacular Al Mouj Golf, just 16 of the 46 finalists will graduate to join Johnston on the European Tour next season, and his advice to his would-be colleagues was typically no nonsense.
My advice for those playing this week: just do what you do
“My advice for those playing this week: just do what you do,” said the 27 year old. “Do what you do, don’t change anything and just do what you do.
“The Grand Final is a very important event. It’s a bigger purse so you can catch up – if you’re coming in a few spots behind, you can make some good ground up that week.
“You can’t approach it any differently though, you’ve just got to approach it exactly the same way and just go and play. If you prepare well then I’d say just go and do exactly what you do week in, week out.
Playing the Challenge Tour gave me experience and maturity - winning the Rankings was massive for me
“You know going in whereabouts you are and what position you’re in, so everyone will have different feelings about it – some will know they need a good week to get into the top 15, others will need a good week to stay in there.
“It’s a good event, a small field, and I’ve just got good memories of it. Everyone will have different feelings going into the week and hopefully everyone comes out happy.”
Johnston sealed his Number One status on the 2014 Challenge Tour with another top ten finish in the Grand Final – his ninth that year, including two wins – and he still acknowledges the importance of that season in giving him the confidence to make a name for himself on the European Tour and beyond.
“It was massive for me,” he said. “It put me in a good place and that made me believe I could do well out on the European Tour and to win the Challenge Tour is a great thing that I’ve done, and I’ll always look back on it as a great achievement.
“Playing Challenge Tour gave me experience and maturity, and experience of travel as well. You’re traveling a lot, four rounds of golf, strong fields, good golfers, so it’s not at all dissimilar from the European Tour when you get there.”
