Delivery driver's life transforms with $217,000 win at Kenya Open golf event

British golfer and part-time delivery driver Joe Dean described his performance at the Kenya Open as "life-changing" after receiving a check for just under 200,000 euros ($217,000) for finishing tied for second place.

On Sunday, ranked at 2,930 in the world, Dean concluded the tournament with a birdie on the final hole, posting a 4-under-par 67 to finish at 12 under overall, level with Spain’s Nacho Elvira and two shots behind the winner, the Netherlands’ Darius van Driel.

Dean's journey marks a dramatic turnaround in fortunes; just last week, he was delivering groceries for the U.K. supermarket chain Morrisons.

Reflecting on his achievement, Dean told DP World Tour, "I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. 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."

The 29-year-old earned his place on the DP World Tour through qualifying but faced financial constraints, delaying his competitive debut until the Qatar Masters earlier in the month.

"After the last three or four years, I never thought I’d get another chance," Dean said. "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."

Despite his initial doubts, Dean managed to adapt swiftly, stating, "I’ve never been one of the most overconfident 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."

"Fortunately, I managed to overcome that quickly and figure out how to navigate the golf course," Dean added.