Beef Johnston: Grayson Murray tragedy “really hurt”
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston says the death of fellow pro Grayson Murray is tragic proof of the strain some professional golfers have to live with week in and week out.
Murray, 30, took his own life last month after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial.
The two-time PGA Tour winner had battled alcoholism and depression and, after victory at the Sony Open in January, spoke candidly about his struggles.
Beef, too, has been open about his own mental health issues and, appearing on this week’s episode of The bunkered Podcast, the Englishman reacted to news of Murray’s passing.
“The whole Grayson Murray thing really hurt, to be honest,” said the DP World Tour winner. “It was just awful. You don’t ever want to see anyone, in any walk of life, pushed to that. Ever.
“It’s quite hard to talk about. You can get caught in a bubble in golf and it’s a grind. It can be tough. It looks great from the outside. Every week we’re someplace else, teeing it up and earning good money but that has nothing to do with it. It’s the stresses and pressures that come with it.”
He added: “Sport is such fine margins. You’re trying to find that little per cent somewhere.
“Sometimes, you’ll play for four or five weeks straight and you play every day – every single day – and you’re trying to find that spark, trying to find that thing, and it can be mentally gruelling.
“And when you’re not in a team environment, there’s no-one else to pick you up, to help you out. You’re on your own. Yes, your coach can help, your caddie can help but, really, you’re on your own. And when you leave the golf course and you’re not with your coach or your caddie or whatever, you’re questioning yourself. ‘What else can I do? How can I get out of this rut?’ or whatever it is.
“It’s like a horror film that replays over and over in your head, and it can get unhealthy. So it can be a grind and it’s very easy to lose perspective. We play with our heart, we play with passion. But it’s a tough game.”
Beef, whose first book ‘Golf Is Hard’ is out today, also had praise for new RBC Canadian Open champion Robert MacIntyre.
The Scot had Beef for company when he made his major championship debut in the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush and made a huge impression on his fellow Brit.
“What I love about Bob is that he’s so aggressive the way he plays,” added Beef. “I remember at Portrush, there was just no backing down from him. If he thinks he can hit the shot and he’s comfortable, he’ll just go for it and that what all the best players have.
“I’m not surprised one bit [to see him win on the PGA Tour]. He’s a great lad and I’m really happy for him. It’s so good to see. “
Buy Beef’s Book!
Beef’s first book, ‘Golf Is Hard’, is on-sale now and is a behind-the-scenes look at the ups and downs of the game that draws largely on his own experiences. He also provides a fascinating insight into what Tiger Woods is like in the locker room and how it felt to hit one of the worst shots in golf history in front of millions of viewers during The Open. Get it now from all good bookstores and online. RRP £22
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