TROON, Scotland -- Andrew Johnston, "Beef" to friends and fans alike, had the Royal Troon galleries in the palm of his hand during this year's Open Championship.
The 27-year-old, who finished in 8th place in just his second Open appearance, plays with an infectious passion and will long be remembered in these parts as much for his broad grin as his game.
He also brought a welcome energy to the interview room. Here are the best lines from golf's new comedian in chief.
Andrew 'Beef' Johnston on ...
... Thursday's double-bogey on the 4th:
"I was just in the rough down the right and I hit the most pure shank I've ever hit. I haven't hit one since I was like 12 years old, and I lost the ball. I was like, 'Where'd that come from?'"
... how he got his nickname:
"It's a bad story. When I was a kid, if I'd grow my hair out, I'm a quarter Jamaican so it goes curly. So one of my friends said, 'Look at your head, it looks like a big bit of beef. You've got a beef head.' And it just stuck."
... killing time before his round on Saturday:
"Drink about 20 cups of tea maybe. My mum, sister and my niece are over, so I'll probably be playing Top Trumps with my niece this afternoon. She hammered me on that yesterday, so I want to get her back."
... support from his 5-year-old niece:
"I can hear her shouting out 'Uncle Beef' now nearly every hole, and today she came out with 'Beef to the rescue!' She cracks me up."
... support from the fans:
"I did an interview with Sky Sports [on Friday] and they said, 'What are you going to eat tonight?' I said, 'Caesar salad'. Then had this one kid screaming, 'Caesar salad!' at me for the first six holes. It was funny!"
... his what he actually ate on Friday night:
"It was a 10-inch pizza. It wasn't that big. It wasn't like a 20-inch, 'Win a T-shirt' if you finish it type of thing."
... his weight:
"I have no idea. You want to pick me up?!"
... his bushy beard:
"My girlfriend's not happy. She was all like, 'Yeah, yeah, I love it.' And all of a sudden she was like, 'Oh, look at it, it's getting a bit long.' I'm like, 'It's too late now!'
... being called by his real name:
"Only when my mum and girlfriend are angry. When I've done something wrong, it's like, 'Andrew! Get here!' I know I'm in trouble then."
... his reception at Troon on Sunday:
"It was incredible. I was speechless. Down the 1st shocked me. When I got to the green and I holed the putt, it was just absolutely crazy in there. And coming down to 18, I'll remember it forever."
... the secret to good golf:
"Just have fun, man. Just play with your mates. You see it at my golf club. People want to play and practice and get their handicaps down. They've had a hard week at work and they want to go out and have a few beers on the course. And I don't think that's a bad thing either. As long as everyone's playing and having fun in their own way, I think that's what you've got to do."
Admit it. 'Beef' is your new favourite golfer.