Andrew 'Beef' Johnston reveals latest injury setback

Earlier, a long battle with thumb injuries had limited him to a few appearances in the last three years. This latest setback could prove even more detrimental to his career.

Taking these aspects into consideration, Johnston has now decided to take a step back. He’s prioritizing recovery and mental health.

“For now, I’ve decided to take a step back from competitive golf — firstly to give my body the time and consistency it needs to rehab properly,” Johnston added in his Instagram post. “And secondly to give myself a bit of space from it all.”

Johnston had also been open about his thumb injury. 

The Thumb Injury That Changed Everything

Thumb injuries devastate a golfer’s grip and swing mechanics. Johnston suffered that, plus the misdiagnosis. 

“I have a complete ligament tear and a partial tear in two tendons. Unfortunately, due to a series of misdiagnoses, it’s taken months to find out,” said Johnston last year, as per Today’s Golfer. 

Johnston travelled to Singapore to get a better understanding of his injury. Upon seeing the MRI scan results, the Englishman came to know that he had been misdiagnosed. 

Despite the setback, the 37-year-old was looking forward to a healthy 2026 season. 

I had a really low period. I’ve got quite lost during these injuries with so much time off and not having answers for so long,” Johnston said. “Much as it breaks my heart, I’m planning for next season.”

However, things haven’t gone his way. The recent back injury has again dismantled his momentum.