Andrew “Beef” Johnston has confirmed he will return to action next month after 14 months out following surgery on his hand.
Johnston‘s last start on the DP World Tour was in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last season, but the injury jinx that has plagued his career struck again.
The 36-year-old, whose huge character and personality made him one of the most popular players in world golf, was diagnosed with a torn ligament as well as further tendon damage in his thumb.
Johnston then travelled with his family to Perth for a complex operation to repair his hand, and he is now “ramping up” his practice time on the west coast of Australia ahead of his competitive comeback in six weeks’ time.
The 2016 Open de Espana champion has confirmed his intention to play in the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland from 27-20 November.
And Johnston will then head to historic Royal Melbourne the following week to join Rory McIlroy and a star-studded field for the Australian Open, assuming there are no setbacks in his recovery.
In an interview with Australian Golf Digest, Johnston outlined his passion for the city of Perth, where he has been putting in the hard yards at a number of club including Mt Lawley, Sea View and The Western Australian Golf Club.
And although he has been sidelined for over a year, he insisted he was not playing in two big events in Australia to “make up the numbers”.
“We’ve fallen in love with Perth and we just love the lifestyle,” he said. “The times we’ve come down here, I’ve loved it.
“I’m ramping up and starting to play a lot. These are big events. They’re important events and I’ve loved the atmosphere. I’m looking forward to playing the Australian Open and playing in Melbourne and seeing a golf course I have heard so much about over the years.
“I’m looking at the Aussie events as a competitor in two ways; I want to go gain fitness back, and get sharp again, but I also really want to play well. I don’t want to [be there to make up the numbers], I want to come out and have a good couple of weeks.”
There is an added incentive at the Australian Open in early December this year as the champion will receive an invite to The Masters in April, with three other places on offer for The Open at Royal Birkdale to those not already exempt.
And Johnston has allowed himself to dare to dream of adding his name to the list of legends on the Stonehaven Cup, with previous champions including McIlroy, Greg Norman and Tom Watson, while the big three of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer are also on the roll of honour.
“Oh, absolutely, 100 per cent it would be massive,” he said of the event that was once regarded as golf’s unofficial fifth major. “The history behind the event; it’s a huge event and the players who are going to be there, it would be an absolute dream.”