Injury-plagued DP World Tour golfer announces immediate break after latest setback

England's Andrew "Beef" Johnston has announced he is taking another break from the sport after picking up a back injury.

Johnston revealed the setback in an Instagram post, saying the problem had emerged "pretty much out of nowhere" following his appearance at the KLM Open in the Netherlands. 

The 37-year-old has struggled over the last few years with injuries. 

A thumb injury has caused the greatest disruption, with the issue keeping him out of action for more than a year. 

"To say I'm deflated is an understatement," he wrote. 

"I'd been feeling really good physically and was loving being back out competing again, so this setback has been tough to take and has affected me mentally as well," Johnston said.

"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, and secondly to give myself a bit of space from it all.

"It's not where I expected to be, but right now getting myself healthy, physically and mentally, has to come first.

"Thanks as always for the support."

The Londoner has endured a career marked by significant highs and difficult spells with injury and his mental health.

Johnston first came to widespread public attention during his breakthrough 2016 season, when his distinctive appearance, outgoing personality and fan-friendly approach made him one of the most popular figures in golf.

He had already enjoyed a breakthrough on the Challenge Tour in 2014, winning the Scottish Hydro Challenge and Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge to claim the season's Order of Merit.

Two years later, Johnston claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Open de España at Valderrama, holding off Joost Luiten by one shot and finishing 1-over par. 

The victory remains the biggest win of his career.

But it was his performance at The Open at Royal Troon later that year that propelled "Beef" into the wider public consciousness.

Johnston finished eighth in the championship, his best result in a major, and became a huge crowd favourite as fans embraced his personality and interaction with spectators. 

He ended the year inside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking. 

This year, Johnston has played 10 DP World Tour events. He has missed four cuts, with his best finish a share of 13th at the Soudal Open in Belgium.