'Beef' Taking Tips From Four-Times-Divorced Daly On Life Off The Course

By: The Mirror

Fan-favourite Englishman set to tee it up in New Jersey this week at the final Major of the year tells how the Wild Thing has been crucial to his recent emergence. Andrew 'Beef' Johnston has revealed relationship advice from golf's four-times divorced Wild Thing, John Daly, has been the secret to his “crazy” rise to fame. Bearded world No.88 Johnston , an unlikely mix of Russell Brand and an Amish farmer, arrived at this week's US PGA Championship in New Jersey to a rock star’s welcome after his starring performance at The Open a fortnight ago. The Londoner admitted he changed his practice time on Wednesday to avoid the hordes of autograph hunters, while there were more reporters in his packed press conference than attended the one for world No.1 Jason Day. This season’s sensation, who won the Spanish Open in April, struck up a friendship with Daly in 2012, when he plucked up the courage to go and speak to the double Major winner. “I always liked him as a kid,” said Johnston, 27. “I liked his character. Daly has won two Majors, but is best known for his lifestyle and eye-popping outfits "He’s a nice guy. He’s got a big heart. I just get on with him really well. He’s kind of similar to me, quite laid-back.” The Wild Thing is now better known for his off-course excesses and once wrote a country and western song entitled All of My Exes Wear Rolexes. But Beef said he has tapped into his extensive marital experience. “The best advice he gave me was when we were in Turkey last year,” he said. “I was talking about this year, travelling a lot and having my girlfriend Louise there. If she was working I wouldn’t see her much. Johnston made headlines at The Open earlier this month, finishing in eighth place "He said to me that if it was going to make me happy off the course, I should just go and do it. He said ‘If you’re happy you’ll play better’. "I think the advice has worked. My girlfriend has been travelling with me, so when I come off the course it means I can stay out somewhere a bit longer. “If she was staying at home I would have come home for that time. That means clocking up more miles, jet-lag and things like that. It has been really good having her there and spending time off the course.” Johnston admitted it had been a “big learning curve” coping with all the attention here, including being followed in his practice round by a stag party wearing ginger beards and signing “hundreds” of autographs. The fans, and media, love Beef — he's been hugely popular at Baltusrol this week “It has been crazy - I have got to find the right balance of spending time with all the fans and getting my work done,” he said. Aussie Day said of Johnston: “I’ve met him once. He looks like a top bloke. "Looks like a guy you want to go down to the pub and have a beer with — even if you don’t drink.”