Andrew 'Beef' Johnston was never going to sit by and keep quiet.
Fan-favourite Johnston came in for criticism on talkSPORT over the weekend, with radio show host Mike Parry suggesting that the golfer was more clown than role model.
On his show, The Two Mikes, Parry branded Johnston "a grinning jabbernacker" who was damaging "the dignity of golf" after the world number 112 was announced by his nickname on the tee box at The Open.
A poll was opened on the show's official Twitter account on Saturday morning which asked fans to vote on whether Johnston was in fact an inspiration to young golfers or a joke, as Parry suggested.
https://twitter.com/TheTwoMikes/status/888715007772561408
Later that afternoon, after Johnston had finished his third round at Royal Birkdale, the 28-year-old didn't hold back with his response to the radio host.
https://twitter.com/BeefGolf/status/888795947744063488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fandrew-beef-johnston-brands-radio-host-a-dhead-after-being-called-a-clown-35958608.html
"If I'm a clown for enjoying my work then so be it," Johnston replied. "Ur a sad person and couldn't care less wat u think."
A Twitter exchange got rather ugly as 'Beef' defended himself against the unprovoked attack.
https://twitter.com/BeefGolf/status/888797107141971969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fandrew-beef-johnston-brands-radio-host-a-dhead-after-being-called-a-clown-35958608.html
https://twitter.com/BeefGolf/status/888819817674928128
https://twitter.com/TheTwoMikes/status/888826191230238720
https://twitter.com/BeefGolf/status/888826441512701952
https://twitter.com/mikeparry8/status/888827076542955520
https://twitter.com/BeefGolf/status/888827754346577922
