Joe Dean is ready to grab his DP World Tour chance with both hands after securing a life-changing tie for second at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.
The Englishman spoke after his second-round 69 of his recent "tough few years" that had seen him step back from the game and take a job as a delivery driver for UK supermarket chain Morrisons.
But last year he earned his place on Tour by coming through all three stages of the Qualifying School, birdieing the last hole at the Final Stage in November to finish in the top 25 and ties and take one of the final spots available.
The 2024 season started the week after but Dean did not tee it up until the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters earlier this month as he did not have the finances to support the travel, accommodation and other costs that come with playing around the world.
After missing the cut in Doha, the World Number 2,930 went back to delivering groceries last week but after a birdie on the last on Sunday secured him a tie for second and a cheque for just under 200,000 euros, life will now look very different.
"I don’t think it’s sunk in yet," he said. "It’s got to be (life changing). It’s what people dream of, it’s what I’ve been aiming to do for a long time.
"After the last three or four years I never thought I’d get another chance.
"Still some gremlins to get past in order to get to my full potential, but like anyone you’ve got to get over them, squash them and keep going.
It’s what people dream of, it’s what I’ve been aiming to do for a long time
"I’ve never been one of the most over-confident people. Coming into this week was a bit daunting. Second event, you don’t really feel like you belong and feel like you’re trying to prove something.
"Luckily, I managed to get over that quickly and figure out how to get around the golf course."
Dean's Qualifying School category did not have him in the field for next week's SDC Championship but now - sitting 36th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and 19th on the International Swing - he can make his third start of the season.
And nobody will be doubting he can deliver after his performance at Muthaiga Golf Club.
