Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston refused to change his name to ‘Tofu’ after being contacted by animal rights campaigners Peta
Cult golf star was offered vegan steaks and burgers by animal welfare group but said there was 'no chance' he would switch
ANDREW 'BEEF' JOHNSTON refused to change his name to Andrew 'Tofu' Johnston after being offered vegan steaks and burgers by Peta.
The cult golfing hero from Barnet burst onto the world stage at the Open with his big, bushy beard and love of red meat.
Beef loves his burgers and red meat so it's no surprise he turned down Peta's offer
It led to a sponsorship deal with American fast food outlet Arby's and a possible link-up with Ian 'Beefy' Botham.
But the animal welfare group wrote to Beef, 27, asking him to change his name in order to start promoting a "kinder, healthier vegan lifestyle."
A letter to Beef read: "Congratulations on all your success this year! Like many others, we’ve been enthusiastically following your career, and we thought we’d send you a gift of delicious vegan steaks and burgers in the hope that you’ll consider adopting a kinder, healthier vegan lifestyle, which would pave the way for a new nickname: Andrew “Tofu” Johnston.
"Along with tofu, veggie burgers and soy steaks are readily available, high in protein, and low in artery-clogging saturated fats and cholesterol.
"By ditching beef and other animal-derived foods, you could reduce your risk of developing heart disease by a long shot (actually, by a whopping 32 per cent, according to a study from the University of Oxford).
"And if that’s not enough, consider that vegetarians and vegans live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters do.
"Just think how many more championships you could win during that time. Replacing beef burgers with bean burgers would also save many animals a year from the routine cruelty of the meat industry.
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"Your new nickname would also raise awareness of the urgent need to move towards a cruelty-free lifestyle to offset the worst effects of climate change.
"According to the United Nations, animal agriculture is “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global”.
"I hope you’ll agree that going vegan is a hole in one for your health, animals, and the environment."
But the man who finished eighth at the Open at Troon said on Twitter: "It's my name basically so won't change."
And he added there is "no chance" of him making the switch in the future.
Beef is taking some time off from a hectic summer and will return to action in the Omega European Masters next month.