A golfer’s incredible journey from delivery driver to tour pro shows how quickly fortunes can change in professional golf.
Joe Dean was having a breakdown at Q-School not long ago. His travel anxiety was so bad he skipped the first 10 events of his rookie season on the DP World Tour.
The anxiety started in 2014 when his parents had to put down their family dog while he was away at training camp. His fiancée helped him cope, but when she had to leave early during Q-School last year, Dean barely slept.
Somehow, he pulled it together and shot an amazing 63 to advance and earn his tour card.
Things started turning around when Dean tried hypnotherapy – he’d won 12 free sessions after winning a smaller tour event. It gave him the courage to finally play in Qatar, his first multi-day tournament in about two years.
He missed the cut there, but two weeks later something clicked. Dean finished second at the Kenya Open, a result that changed everything for the former grocery delivery driver.
“I almost feel guilty for doing it,” Dean says about playing on tour now. “It’s just a different lifestyle. If I still had the time, I’d probably do a shift here and there to remind myself where I was.”
His rise has been meteoric. Dean jumped from No. 2,851 to No. 159 in the world rankings this year – the second-biggest improvement behind only amateur-turned-pro Nick Dunlap.
But Dean stays humble. “This game is so volatile,” he says. “Whatever you think you’ve got can go tomorrow.”
Other pros had dramatic ranking changes in 2024:
Bryson DeChambeau rocketed from 155th to 10th, capped by his U.S. Open win at Pinehurst. It marked a complete image makeover for the once-controversial star.
Former college standout Braden Thornberry finally made it to the PGA Tour after seven years trying, jumping from 2,104th to 252nd.
On the flip side, some big names struggled:
Max Homa fell from 7th to 41st after technical issues led him to split with his coach.
Matt Fitzpatrick dropped from 8th to 43rd in what he called his worst year ever.
Jordan Spieth slid to 69th while battling a wrist injury that finally required surgery.
The rankings show just how quickly fortunes can change in golf – both up and down. For players like Joe Dean, it’s a reminder to enjoy the good times while they last.
