eBOISE, Idaho — The PGA Tour just got beefier.
Andrew “Beef” Johnston locked up his Tour card for the 2016-17 season after his fourth-place finish at the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco.
“Man, I can’t wait! Happy days. I came over and had a couple good weeks, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Beef said after his round on Sunday.
Johnston took the 36-hole lead at Hillcrest Country Club after opening with rounds of 66 and 63. He didn’t go as low in his weekend rounds, shooting 70 and 68, but it was enough for a fourth-place finish that’s more than enough to secure a card.
Tour cards will be handed out to the top 25 players on the Finals money list. It’s difficult to gauge exactly how much money it will take to finish in the top 25. The No. 25 man on the money list earned $33,650 in 2013, $36,311.66 in 2014, and $32,206.00 in 2015.
A T28 finish at the DAP Championship gave the Englishman $6,910, and his fourth-place finish in Boise netted him $48,000. His grand total is $54,910, putting him comfortably inside the top 25.
Beef is exempt on the European Tour through 2018 and will now balance life on both Tours next season.
“I think it’s going to be a good schedule, man. I can’t wait,” he said with his signature smile.
Johnston turned pro in 2009, but had some struggles early in his career. He changed caddies and started working with a new swing coach last season, a change that has definitely paid off.
He picked up his first professional victory earlier this year at the Spanish Open and finished solo eighth in his third major start at The Open Championship.
Beef discussed his expectations on the PGA Tour for next season, saying “I have expectations for myself to go out and compete and do well and that, but you’ve got to put the work in and prepare well for it, and that’s the first step before I go out and play in any event.”
