Joe Dean leads Ryder Cup Points List after victory at The Belfry
Joe Dean has become the first player to lead the 2027 European Ryder Cup Points List after claiming his maiden DP World Tour title at the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, the opening event of this year’s qualification process.
The Englishman made 11 birdies in 24 holes on Sunday at The Belfry, closing with a course-record-equalling nine-under-par 63 to earn a three-shot victory and move to the top of the initial European Ryder Cup standings with 250 points.
Dean began the final round eight shots off the lead after weather delays forced players to complete their third rounds on Sunday morning, adding two early birdies before making nine more in the final round to finish at 14 under par.
With the final group on the 12th and closest challenger Marco Penge two shots back, the Sheffield golfer and his wife and caddie, Emily, faced a long wait, but Penge’s bogey-bogey finish confirmed Dean’s first DP World Tour title.
Speaking after his victory, Dean said he was proud of the work that had led him to this point.
“All those painful hours and all the work I put into this, it’s finally led to something,” he said. “I’m happy.
“I can’t thank Emily enough for what she has to put up with with me. It was bad enough off the course and the lows and stuff like that, but now on the course and off the course.
“I hope I made her proud. I don’t know. I’m at a loss for words. I think we’re both just really happy and a bit rabbit in the headlights at the minute.
“Today was one of the rare days where everything just felt right and the putts were dropping. Almost like I couldn’t do anything wrong. We saw a glimpse of that over the past two, three months, but it kind of faded by back nine or it faded after a few holes. To finally get through the entire round and feel good about it is really nice.”
“I think it’s going to be a bit surreal. I don’t think I’ll take it in for quite a while to see my name next to some of those legends of the game. Yeah, just like I said, just overwhelmed at the minute.”
Dean’s sense of overwhelm is understandable. On the EuroPro Tour as recently as 2022, he came through all three stages of Qualifying School at the end of 2023 but did not tee it up until the following February due to a lack of funds. He continued working as a supermarket delivery driver, while also seeking the help of a hypnotist to overcome his issues with international travel, before making headlines with a runner-up finish at the 2024 Magical Kenya Open presented by absa in just the second start of his rookie season.
That year, helped by another runner-up finish at the KLM Open, he reached the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in his rookie campaign. He then recorded another runner-up finish at last year’s Nexo Championship.
Now a winner at the four-time Ryder Cup venue, Dean tops the initial European Ryder Cup standings ahead of Niklas Nørgaard, Nacho Elvira and Jacob Skov Olesen, who each begin the campaign with 99.75 points after finishing in a tie for second.
Penge, whose tie for sixth is his best result since returning in July after taking time off due to health reasons, sits alongside Tom McKibbin and Thomas Rosenmueller on 45.16 points. They are followed by 2018 Ryder Cup star Thorbjørn Olesen, Joakim Lagergren and Daniel Rodrigues on 27.26 points.
Eligible DP World Tour members will be able earn Ryder Cup points across a year-long qualification process which will end on Sunday August 22, 2027, inclusive of both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR events that week. These events will be confirmed when both Tours announce their 2027 schedules later this year.
The leading six players from the Ryder Cup Points list at the conclusion of the process will earn automatic qualification for Team Europe. Captain Luke Donald will then complete his 12-man team by selecting a further six ‘Captain’s Picks’ in the week commencing Monday August 30, 2027.