While many amateurs choose or are forced to avoid going to the driving range before a round, causing their tee shots to become stiff and result in less than ideal results, this is rarely the case for professionals.
Most pros arrive at the course at least a few hours before the official start time to stay relaxed, fuel their bodies, and get properly adjusted with every club in their bag.
However, one DP World Tour pro – who has been having a good season – decided to forgo that supposedly important practice time and do things his own way. And it seems to be working.
Britain’s Joe Dean has played four DP World Tour events in the 11 years leading up to the 2024 season, one of which was the 146th British Open, where he finished T70.
However, the 29-year-old’s game eventually reached the next level and he earned some qualification for the European Tour through Qualifying School late last year, but travel costs limited him to playing only his first tournament in February (the Qatar Masters).
Joe Dean and his caddie at the Amazing Kenya Open earlier this year
(Image source: Getty Images)
While his first tournament of the year may have been memorable, it was his second that changed his life. After finishing tied for second at the Amazing Kenya Open, Dean won $215,109.33 (£170,000). The former supermarket delivery driver never looked back.
In six tournaments since Kenya, Dean has won $105,270.66 and is on track to earn a full DP World Tour card in 2025 as long as he keeps making the cut.
He plans to not practice on the driving range with others before playing 18 holes, choosing instead to focus only on chipping and putting.
Asked to explain his approach ahead of the final round of the KLM Open this week, the man who turns 30 on Monday said: “It’s just something I’ve been working on for the last few years.
“It was just a matter of me not hitting the range well. If anything, I almost felt too relaxed. [after the range]if that makes sense.
Tee off early and hit it straight down the middle! 🤩@joedean_golf First shot of the day (literally)… #KLMOpen https://t.co/gWFFogmolv pic.twitter.com/PBIm6N21qyJune 23, 2024
“I just want to get more feel by coming straight here [to the short-game area] Look what I got.”
Dean’s choice got him off to a good start all week, at least from a Holland International scoring perspective — he tied the first hole at 4-all. He had two bogeys on the second hole, but then had a couple of birdies on the par-5 third.
