‘Beef’ Johnston earns PGA Tour card

Tuesday, 20 September 2016 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: Fan favourite Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston will gain more welcome exposure to American galleries next season after he earned his PGA Tour card on Sunday.

Johnston shot a final-round three-under-par 68 at the Web.com Tour Boise Open to finish in fourth place and earn his card for the tour.

“Very happy to come over and get what I was trying to do,” said Johnston.

“It’s big. I tried my best and that’s what I did.”

The 27-year-old Johnston won his first European Tour event at the Spanish Open in April and has rocketed from 220th in the world rankings at the end of last year to 80th prior to this week.

Johnston, with his bushy beard and ever present smile, won admirers around the world for the way he gleefully interacted with the galleries while finishing eighth in the British Open at Royal Troon in July.

Andrew Johnston chips up on to the 17th green during the first round of the 2016 PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol GC – Lower Course – USA TODAY Sports