Saturday 20 January 2018 16:13, UK
Andrew 'Beef' Johnston is keen to get his career back on track this year and has made an encouraging start to his season at the Abu Dhabi Championship.
The 28-year-old Englishman attempted to establish himself on the PGA Tour last year but struggled to find any consistent form in the United States and eventually opted to return to the European Tour.
His hard work over the winter appears to have paid off as he has opened his campaign with rounds of 68, 68 and 66 to sit in a tie for sixth place after three rounds in Abu Dhabi, three shots off the lead heading into the final round.
And when asked what he put his performance down to, he replied: "Just hard work, man.
"Last year was crazy and like getting distracted and things like that, and you don't know it's happened until you've finished the season, you're off doing things and you're burning the candle at both ends.
"When I got back from last season, sort of had time to reflect on it, I sort of said to myself, you know, you've got to keep quiet and keep disciplined and get on with your work.
"I came out here a week early to Dubai and drove down. It's been good prep."
Johnston has made a major impact with the public over the last couple of years, but he is keen to put the off-course distractions behind him and focus on his golf.
He said: "I'm a social person. If you go out with friends or you get invited to something, I'll have a beer, please, but I probably had a few too many beers, I would say, to be honest and it reflected in my golf and I was disappointed looking back at it.
"I want to turn that around and have a good season."
Johnston made five birdies on the front nine on Saturday but only two on the back nine and he felt his driving was a key factor in his contrasting fortunes.
"[You've] got to drive the ball well," he said. "I think if you drive it well, you give yourself a lot of wedges, nine-irons in and you can score.
"I think you've got to put it on the fairway, and I did that the front nine today and I didn't drive it as well on the back. That's why I didn't carry on the scoring today. That is the key.
"Today I just got on a really good roll. I was a bit disappointed with my back nine, that I couldn't carry on and maybe made a couple more, but six under is always a good score and you've got to be happy with that."
