Beef Johnston is the People’s Champion… but Richard Bland can complete his Cinderella story at British Masters

ANDREW BEEF JOHNSTON is the People's Champion - but it is Richard Bland who can complete the Cinderella story at the British Masters.

The fan favourite who signed one punter's forehead is bidding for his second win of the year at the Grove.

But it is the man without a win in almost 400 starts who has the best chance to claim the trophy, says Nick Dougherty.

Yet the Sky Sports man and three-time European Tour winner insists crossing the line will not be easy for Bland, especially as Beef's loyal supporters could be the equivalent of a one or two shot advantage.

He said: "The best way to describe Beef is the People's Champion.

"He’s the everyman, the ordinary kid who’s come through and done well and every time he makes a birdie it feels like you’ve taken someone out the crowd and put them in his shoes.

"He has the excitement the crowd would do in that situation, he never gets tired of it. He’s a revelation and the European Tour needs him. He’s been superb.

"Beef feeds off the support. Sometimes that will from the crowd can be a burden but he’s not that sort of character. He’s a guy who will roll with it.

"People love to watch him play and will be rooting for him more so than any other player on the course. That will help him this weekend.

"He’s won this year already. He doesn’t have to justify himself but what I will say is that his popularity does go beyond what he has achieved so far. He does have a game that is as big as his character.

"Most guys have to earn ten times to get a profile like he has, but his character is so warm he has that already and his game is spectacular."

But it is in quiet Bland, who starts the third round with a one-shot lead over Beef and Swede Alex Noren, that Dougherty sees as the fairytale winner.

He said: "I just have a feeling that Richard Bland will complete the Cinderella story. He turned pro in 1996 and he is knocking on the door, waiting for it to go down.

"In the past he said he hasn’t been aggressive enough, he doesn’t have the win to his name but that can change in a heartbeat."

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