Bio

Six years ago Will Johnson ran for his life as the Boxing Day Tsunami hit Thailand. Today he is a very promising tour pro. Here is his amazing story.

By Kit Alexander
Photography Bob Atkins & Getty

When the Boxing Day Tsunami struck Thailand in 2004, 12 year old Will Johnson was supposed to be on a hired boat, speeding around Phi Phi Islands. But he and his family over slept and missed their slot.

“The night before – Christmas night – I was bored so I was moaning for us to do something,” he recalls. “We went to a cabaret show, didn’t get back until late and slept in the next morning.”

The lie-in saved his life. The Tsunami claimed all lives in the Phi Phis – including that of the boat hire guide who was due to take them out.

Will’s recollections of the Tsunami are truly harrowing: “My main memory is running up the hill for my life.” He pauses to show me a picture of the wrecked hotel that he and his family made their escape from, captured on the front of the Bangkok post. “I remembered jumping out of the hotel and walking onto the street with my dad and seeing all the fish and bodies floating down the street.”

It was another four days until the Staffordshire-based family were able to get a flight home; and the inescapable chaos, pain and death that engulfed Thailand in the hours after tragic events began to take their toll. The entire family needed counselling and Will’s father Andy still suffers from survivors Guilt to this day.

Will understands how lucky he was to escape alive, but out of this horrific experience the youngster found golf, and it’s changed his life.

Now having just turned 18 Johnson is on the cusp of his first season on the EuroPro Tour. His life has come full circle in an amazing six year journey that began in tragic circumstances and culminated in an emotional return trip to Thailand to play his first professional tournament at the beginning of May.

Will’s path into golf came during the difficult few months following his return from Thailand. “When

“Then I went back, and to be honest, I thought ‘What am I doing here doing school work when i've just seen all that bad stuff over there?”

Understandably, his education began to suffer. It could have been the beginning of a slippery slope; but then Will found golf.

“Soon after I got back to school there was an activity week with paintballing, go-karting and golf. I'd have preferred to go paintballing or go-karting but they were full so I ended up on the golf day and that was it.”

He took to the game immediately as it gave him an escape from his traumatic memories and something else to focus on.

Will’s progress was rapid. Within a year of that first trip to the chase he’d halved his handicap from 36 to 18. The second year he was representing Staffordshire.

Golf had quickly become his life, and at this stage was not only a form of therapy but also a genuine career prospect.

When he left school at 16. Will became a full-time student at the EGPI Golf Academy at St Thomas’ Priory, Rugeley, where his game went from strength to strength under the supervision of Paul Darby and Mike Beaumont.

After 15 months, it was decision time. Continue along the amateur path or break from the mould and turn pro at the tender age of 17? It was a tough choice but he made a brave and pragmatic decision; he turned pro, and returned to the Chase under the guidance of head pro Craig Thomas and the Irish-based short game coach Graham Spring.

“I’d have preferred to stay amateur until I was 21, get into plus figures and play some good overseas events, but the opportunities were there with sponsors now so I decided to turn pro.

“I’d have liked to play for England and get a bit of a name for myself but a lot of amateurs don’t turn pro

Will and his father have managed to secure a number of sponsorship deals including Paddy Power, Netflights.com and Bibby Financial Services, that will allow him to complete a full EuroPro Tour schedule this season (the third tier of European golf).

“The first few years are going to be a big learning curve but i'll try and shoot some good numbers and make a name for myself.”

As a part of his preparation for the 2010 season, Will was invited back to Thailand in May to make his professional debut in the Singha Pattaya Open at Burapha GC, part of South East Asia’s Mercedes-Benz Tour.

An opening 75 was followed by a 78, but it was a learning exercise. “It was different and it was good playing in a big field with a few European Tour players like Chapchai Nirat and Thworn Wiratchant.

“I played with the 2005 winner Chawalit Plaphol and I took a lot from it. It was great to see the way they plan and practice

“The main thing was realising I can contend and hit it aswell as these guys.”

Despite missing the cut, Will was invited by the owner of Burpha GC to represent the club in September’s Thailand Open. This event last year was won by Jyoti Randhawa and boasted European Tour player Rhys Davis and world number 47 Thongchai Jadiee in the field.

Nothing will ever erase the memory of the Boxing Day Tsunami, but golf has allowed Will to rebuild his life and given him a bright future in the game that he can really look forward to. His calm and realistic planning for the progress of his career is mightily impressive:

“I think ill be going to European Tour Q School but I don’t know if it’ll be this year. I would like to do Open Qualifying next year when i've got used to playing in the pro ranks. In five years time, I’d hope to be on the European Tour consistently playing with the big boys. Hopefully i'll have played my way there rather than playing off invites.

“Now that would really be something.”