Richard Boxall
Golf Columnist
Andrew 'Beef' Johnston world-class golfer and great character, says Richard Boxall
Last Updated: 16/07/16 11:06pm
The popularity of Andrew Johnston has been welcomed by Richard Boxall as refreshing for golf, but the Sky Sports commentator reminds us that 'Beef' is a world-class golfer as well as a big character...
Andrew Johnston has been very refreshing for the European Tour, and he's the kind of character the game needs. He's very down to earth, he speaks the truth and he tells it how it is. He's such a good lad.
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I spent some time with him at Leopard Creek back in November and got on really well with him. And he's had a great season. He won the Open de Espana earlier this year on a very tough Valderrama course and he's in the top 30 on the Race to Dubai.
I believe he was going to shave his beard off earlier this year, but I think he decided to keep it on when his popularity as a cult figure continued to grow. We've seen him smashing burgers with his driver and dancing around Wentworth with Radar, and he attracts a huge following anywhere he plays.
He's mixed in well, and obviously he's enjoying a fantastic Open this week. I'd love to see him have a really good final round and get a massive reception coming up the last.
Because of his character, it has been overlooked that he's actually a very good golfer, although that's not so much the case now he's become known for his form as much as his personality.
He's really starting to play to his full potential now, and he's got a good team behind him. His caddie is great - Gordon Faulkner has been around for many years and actually used to caddie for my Sky Sports colleague Wayne Riley. The two of them go well together.
Johnston has burst onto the scene much in the same way as Andy Sullivan did a couple of years ago. Andy is another one who has a very outgoing personality, but he also let his golf do the talking and won three tournaments last year.
Beef has an outside chance of making the Ryder Cup team, and I'd really love to see him play with Andy Sullivan.
Richard Boxall
He's not quite touched those heights yet this season, but he's still well on course for a place in the Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine.
Beef has an outside chance of making Darren Clarke's European side as well, and I'd really love to see them both involved. Having two guys like that on board would undoubtedly be good for team spirit, and it would be great to see them play together. It would be entertaining for certain.
I think Sullivan will make the team, and Beef really has to push on from here to have a chance. But the way he's playing on the biggest stage of all at Royal Troon will definitely have forced his way into Clarke's consideration.
Johnston has proved he can handle tougher courses. He was over par when he won at Valderrama and he also performed well at Wentworth and then on a brutal Oakmont layout at the US Open.
I think he likes the courses where it's not all about putting. He's good at shaping the ball either way through the air, he can vary his trajectories, and he's got a sound short game.
He obviously puts the work in, but it's refreshing to see him have a laugh at the same time. That's how it should be.
