Regardless of how he performs at this week’s BMW Australian PGA Championship, Andrew Johnston is just glad to be back competing again.
The Englishman, affectionately known as Beef, has played just once worldwide since the 2024 BMW PGA Championship due to a long-standing hand injury dating back to 2021.
Earlier this year, it was revealed Johnston had a complete ligament tear and a partial tear in two other tendons in his thumb after a series of earlier misdiagnoses.
After months of recovery since undergoing the second of two surgeries in as many years, the 36-year-old made a welcome return to action last month at the Genesis Championship in South Korea.
Now, in Australia – where he has come to call home since his latest operation – he is approaching the first of back-to-back starts on the DP World Tour, with the Crown Australian Open to follow next week.
“It’s real good to be back," he told the DP World Tour.
"The game feels pretty good. I’m trying to manage expectations as always but my hand, body feels good, and the game generally feels alright.
"So, let’s see what happens this week."
BEEF IS BACK! 😍
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 26, 2025
After only playing one event in the 2025 season, Beef has returned for the first two events of the 2026 season in Australia 🇦🇺#AusPGA pic.twitter.com/dPMxWzXDY6
In his most recent spell on the DP World Tour last year, he reminded everyone of his talent with a solo-third finish at the Omega European Masters in September 2024.
A winner on the DP World Tour at Valderrama in 2016, Johnston is this season playing on a membership extension as a result of his injury woes.
Johnston has not played in Australia since the ISPS HANDA Vic Open in 2019, with his only appearance at the Australian PGA Championship resulting in a top ten earlier in that season.
But with the event then held at RACV Royal Pines Resort, Johnston is testing himself on a new layout at Royal Queensland.
“The golf course is great, really tricky around the greens,” he said.
“You have got to hit your short irons well. Even when you are hitting 100-120 yards in, you have got to be careful where you hit it.
“I think some of the pin positions are going to be tricky. It always keeps you on your toes here and it is a positional golf course off the tee and trying to hit it in the right position on the greens. It’s a good test.”
After the injury woes he has faced in recent seasons, few would begrudge him a strong showing in Brisbane.
