English golfer Andrew Johnston recently spoke about his battle with mental health issues, shedding light on the darker side of his rapid rise to fame.
Johnston’s breakthrough moment came in 2016 when he clinched his maiden DP World Tour title at the Open de Espana and secured an impressive T8 finish at The Open. However, his sudden ascent to stardom came with its own set of challenges, leading him into a struggle with his mental well-being.
In a conversation with former footballer Robbie Savage, ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, Johnston discussed his journey and the emotional toll it took. Johnston admitted:
“All of a sudden, I would stand on a range next to your Rory’s or Ricky Fowler’s, whoever it was, and I’d be like, ‘this is ridiculous, I’m not supposed to be here.”
The weight of expectations he placed on himself to win consistently became overwhelming, and he found himself trapped in a vicious cycle of self-imposed pressure and disappointment. He described this period as a “big sort of rabbit hole” where the more pressure he felt, the worse he performed, further fueling his anxiety.
Injuries added to his challenges, including a thumb injury in November 2021 that kept him away from the course for over a year. Johnston’s return to competitive golf brought a mix of emotions, and he began questioning whether he would ever play again.
However, it was during his time in Singapore for surgery that Johnston hit his lowest point. He revealed:
“I remember we were on the 19th floor, and something had rattled me, and I was in a really dark place, and the thoughts started popping into your head.”
Andrew Johnston credits his wife and psychiatrist for overcoming his mental health issues
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