Most golfers on the DP World Tour have been playing since they were kids. They grew up with caddies, coaches, and family money backing their swing. Joe Dean is different. He was delivering groceries for a living just two years ago to pay for his golf career.
This 32-year-old Englishman won the Husqvarna British Masters on Sunday at The Belfry. He started the final round seven shots back. Five hours later, he shot a bogey-free 63 to win by three strokes. The turnaround is wild, but the path to get there is even stranger. Dean worked as a delivery driver during the pandemic in 2020 and kept the job for four years while he did not have a tour card, per reports.
A Long Road to the Belfry
The road to victory was not a straight line. Dean played on the EuroPro Tour in 2022. He did not play a single tournament that counted toward world rankings in 2023. Somehow, he earned his DP World Tour card later that season through Q-School. By 2024, he had a handful of top-five finishes. Last year, he finished second at the Nexo Championship and tied for fifth in the United Arab Emirates.
He used a hypnotist to deal with issues regarding international travel. The pressure was real. Dean noted the toll it took on his life. “It was bad enough off the course and the lows and stuff like that, but now on the course and off the course,” he said, according to Golf Monthly. He also sought help to manage the mental side of the game.
The Final Round Charge
Sunday at The Belfry was not normal. Rain delays on the first two days left some golfers with as many as 30 holes to play on Sunday. When Dean began the day, he trailed by eight shots, yet that deficit shrank to just seven as the final round officially started. By birdying four holes within the opening six, he surged into contention. He made five more birdies on the back nine, including four of the last six holes.
Dean did not know he had won when he birdied the 18th hole. He just knew he had to keep playing. A score of 63 marked the day’s lowest total, beating the next best by three strokes. Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren shot 66 to tie for ninth. According to reports, Jacob Skov Olesen, Niklas Norgaard, Nacho Elvira, and Daniel Hillier shared second place with an 11-under total, falling three shots short of Dean.
“Today was one of the rare days where everything just felt right and the putts were dropping,” Dean said. “Almost like I couldn’t do anything wrong.” He added that he had seen flashes of this form before, but it often faded by the back nine. To get through the whole round feeling good was a big deal.
The victory puts Dean on the Ryder Cup Points list for Team Europe. He also secured enough Race to Dubai points to keep himself safe for next year. “My goal today was to basically try and shoot under par as well as possible,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ll be honest, winning wasn’t anywhere in my thoughts.”
Dean is now married to Emily, who carried his bag on Sunday. The couple tied the knot just five weeks ago. Dean thanked his wife for her support during the hard times. “I can’t thank Emily enough for what she has to put up with with me,” he said, per reports.
He no longer has to deliver groceries to make ends meet. Yet, he does not forget where he came from. Dean still sees his former co-workers and says he enjoyed those four years living a different life. “All those painful hours and all the work I put into this, it’s finally led to something,” he said. “I’m happy.”
