DP World Tour winner reveals anxiety as he battles to secure his future at golf’s top table

Andrew 'Beef' Johnston reveals how anxiety and pressure impacts his golf

In a revealing column, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston delves into the highs, lows and anxiety a professional golfer can face across four rounds at a tournament when your battling for your future.

I set the course record, had my best finish since coming back from injury and there were so many positives. Yet when I walked off the 72^nd hole at the Czech Masters, I was gutted, man. I had to have an hour on my own, gathering my thoughts and calming down, trying to get over what might have been.

48 hours earlier I’d been buzzing. In fact, three hours earlier I’d been buzzing. I was right in the hunt for the title as I reached the turn and then bang… bogey, bogey, bogey, out of nowhere. No horrendous mistakes, just those fine margins. But within three holes I’d gone from having real hope of the win to needing to stop the bleeding and fast. It was such a tight leaderboard and there are so many quality players on the DP World Tour that every shot gained or lost was making a massive difference and I’d shipped three in three holes.

There’s no doubt that anxiety and pressure played a big part. It’s so long since I’ve been in that position, playing in the final groups, contending for a win. I’d felt comfortable all week but suddenly it was like I’d been asked to stand up on a stage and speak to a huge audience. The awareness of the situation kicks in, suddenly you’ve got a lie that you’re uncomfortable with and it’s magnified because of the significance. Ultimately, every shot you play across the four rounds is equally important – they all count for the same. But when there’s a tournament on the line, it just hits differently. That’s where match sharpness and experience play such a key role and having only been back for a few months, I know I’m not there yet.

• Beef: “People assume that being a professional golfer makes us immune from life’s stresses”

It’s probably different if you’re Scottie Scheffler or Xander Schauffele and used to being in that position multiple times per season. You can draw on experience and all those times you got over the line, but when you haven’t been there for a while – I genuinely can’t even remember the last time [Ed’s Note: Beef’s last Top 10 was at the Mallorca Open in October 2021] – it’s tough to do that, especially when you’re not match sharp. I’ve played a few tournaments since my return, but ultimately I still lack competitive rounds, especially compared to a lot of the guys I’m up against.

I’m not stupid, I know golf is hard – I wrote a book called that for a reason! But for so much of the tournament, it had felt easy. I’ve been chopping and changing some things and for this week I decided to go left-below-right with my putting grip, and I stopped lining up the ball, going with more of a feel approach. I was solid in the opening round, but then came Friday and I felt like I couldn’t miss – 15-footer after 15-footer going in. And not just creeping in or grabbing an edge and falling but dropping bang in the middle. I teed off hoping for a decent day to guarantee making the cut, shot a nine-under 63, set the course record and suddenly I was in the final group for the third round, just one shot back.

• Beef: “It’s no wonder viewers are switching off. Golf has got to stop handing out crazy money”

Golf’s weird, man. Everything on Friday felt great and natural, but when you’re suddenly in a position you haven’t been in for a while, it does weird things to your mind. Anxiety and pressure creeps in, everything gets like 50% harder and the margins feel tighter. I didn’t putt as well on Saturday, the cup felt smaller, but I put together a decent round. And the crowds were great – since coming back I’ve realised how much I missed that buzz of the fans cheering for you and hearing your name announced as you walk up the 18^th.

I think that match fitness and mental fatigue played a part in the final round. The front nine was decent, but I need to get used to those feelings and the intensity again, learn to stay chilled and enjoy it. I wasn’t 100% comfortable but the more I play and the more I get in the mix, the stronger I’ll get.

• Beef: “I took golf for granted”

I was really pleased with how I bounced back with the disappointment from those three bogeys. I knew the tournament was gone at that stage, but I reset, got one back and was on track for a T12… then I missed a three-footer for par on the last. And I didn’t just miss it, I didn’t even scare the hole! I pulled it straight left and it left a really sour taste. Things were so tight that one shot cost me 11 places, so I just needed some time to decompress. That’s a bit of a trend at the moment – I’ve gone backwards rather than forwards when it matters and that’s tough because there’s a lot on the line. I’m playing catch up having missed a lot of events and everything feels big between now and the end of the season.

I’ve got to take the positives. I’ve been doing a lot of the right things. I do feel sharper with each week and I won’t dwell. I’m feeling good physically, and, unless anything changes, I’m planning to play nine in a row. There are some big events coming up and all it takes is a good couple of weeks to jump up the rankings and be in with a shout of making Abu Dhabi and Dubai at the end of the season. And when you consider that just a few months ago I didn’t even know if I’d play this game again, that would be a fantastic achievement.

About the Author

Andrew Johnston – Professional Golfer and Podcaster

Andrew Johnston, better known as Beef, is a professional golfer on the DP World Tour who has also played on the PGA Tour and in three of the four men’s Majors.

The Englishman, who won the Real Club Valderrama Open de España in 2016, has his own YouTube channel and is the owner and co-host of the hit Beef’s Golf Club podcast alongside fellow Today’s Golfer contributor John Robins. He has also tried his hand in the commentary booth and in front of the cameras at both The Open and the Ryder Cup.

A huge fan favorite, Beef is a Cobra Puma player and is coached by Jamie Gough. Away from golf, he is a huge Arsenal FC fan and lives in Portugal with his wife Jodie and daughter Harley.