Johnston and Wood: The Englishmen who came in from the cold

GURUGRAM: These two Englishmen are instantly recognisable on the golf course. Selfie master Andrew 'Beef' Johnston has developed a cult following because of his trademark beard and friendly demeanour, and you have to look up to find Chris Wood nodding because he is 6ft 6in tall.
Last week, both of them were struggling with the 'Beast from the East' to get some practice.But now, after landing in Gurugram for the $1.75m Hero Indian Open, here comes the sun... and incoming traffic.
"It's amazing," said Woodie. "This is something I will have to get used to this week. When I go out for dinner this week, I will just jump into a 'tuk-tuk' and I will get to see a part of the city."
"I am amazed at how the people drive here," repeated Beef, chuckling. "There is no way I will be able to drive here."
Last week, in Bristol, it was Chris's father who drove down in his truck because the golfer couldn't get his car running in six inches of snow. "It goes through anything and I kind of crammed into it and dad took me to the course."
Andrew, meanwhile, was 'trying' to lose some weight in the gym. His affinity to a juicy burger and a pint is well known, and a fast food company's label on his sleeve says it loud. He opted for vegetable biryani after reaching his hotel but the palate is likely to turn more adventurous when Shiv Kapur turns tour guide for the Londoner in the days to come. "I wasn't sure if it was breakfast or lunch, must have been brunch," the 29-year-old said of his first taste of local India.
Playing on the European Tour is like signing for a 'Travelcard'. "This is wonderful for a wanderer," 30-year-old Wood, who hit a high of World No. 22 in 2016, stated. "It's Australia to India to Oman to Malaysia to Austria," Johnston explained. "We are lucky to see all these different places. Last season, I was playing on the PGA Tour and it's like from Texas to South Carolina, you step down from a plane and you immediately see a Target or a Walmart. Easier to travel and more streamlined but you miss out on discovering new places."
For the very approachable Beef, it is customary to chat with fans all over the world. "I'm really blessed, to see people come up to me for a selfie. Kids come up, 70-year-old women, old men... I just bounce off it. A minute with a person and maybe, they are coming back to more golf tournaments. We have to give back to the game."
Back to the game, then. "The last four or five years have been crazy. To start off at the little golf course I played when I was a kid, and to have ended up playing Majors - and doing well in Majors - playing European Tour and a bit on the PGA Tour as well it's been absolutely mad."
However, for the Arsenal fan - football is something he doesn't was to discuss for obvious reasons - it is always about people. "How the madness has come about and how much fun people have had watching me play, it's something I'll never forget. Every time I step on the tee and people are shouting 'Beeeef' it still amazes me."
For Wood, bunker play has been an issue. "With so much snow you can't really hit many shots. I'll have to tighten up the short game this week." Preparation was not ideal but it was a week of fun. He went tobogganing with his one-year-old son instead.
And strategy for the Indian Open? "To beat SSP (Chawrasia, the defending champ). He wins everywhere in India. I've only just got to stand next to him and try to intimidate him a little bit with our height difference," was his gentle swing, following through to laughter.