Although many amateurs heading out onto the golf course either choose or are forced to avoid visiting the practice range before a round, thus hitting their opening shot while as stiff as a brick and leading to unfavorable results, the same is hardly ever said for professionals.
Most pros arrive at the course at least a couple of hours before their official start time in order to stay relaxed, sufficiently fuel their bodies, and properly tune up using every club in the bag.
Yet, one DP World Tour pro – who is enjoying a fine season – has decided to miss out on that allegedly-important range time to do things his own way. A tactic that seems to be working reasonably well.
Englishman Joe Dean had played four DP World Tour events across 11 years before the 2024 season, one of which was the 146th Open Championship – at which he finished T70.
The 29-year-old’s game eventually kicked on to new levels, though, and he qualified for some European Tour starts late last year through Q-School but only managed to attend his first event in February (the Qatar Masters) due to travel costs.
Joe Dean and his caddie at the Magical Kenya Open earlier this year
(Image credit: Getty Images)
While his first start of the year was perhaps one to forget, his second was life-changing. At the Magical Kenya Open, Dean ended in a tie for second and earned himself $215,109.33 (£170,000). The former Supermarket delivery driver has not looked back since.
In the six tournaments after Kenya, Dean has earned $105,270.66 and is looking good for a full DP World Tour card in 2025, as long as he can keeping making cuts.
He plans to do so without joining everyone else on the practice range before heading out for his 18 holes, instead choosing to simply focus on chipping and putting in the build-up.
Asked to explain his methods before the final round of the KLM Open this week, at which Dean had a chance of winning, the man who turns 30 on Monday said: “It’s just something that I’ve worked on over the last couple of years.
“It’s just been something where I’ve played well after not going to the range. If anything, I almost feel too loose [after the range], if that makes sense.
Straight down the middle with an early tee pick up!🤩@joedean_golf’s first shot of the day (literally)…#KLMOpen https://t.co/gWFFogmolv…
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