British Masters: England's Joe Dean snatches maiden DP World Tour title with extraordinary comeback win at The Belfry

Joe Dean produced a remarkable final-day comeback to snatch a maiden DP World Tour title with an impressive three-shot victory at the Husqvarna British Masters.

Dean - a former supermarket delivery driver - returned early on Sunday morning to birdie two of the final four holes of a weather-delayed third-round 71 at The Belfry, leaving him tied-25th and still seven strokes behind Daniel Hillier.

The 32-year-old raced up the leaderboard by firing nine birdies - including four in his last six holes - to post a stunning final-round 63, seeing him set the clubhouse target at 14 under with more than half of the field still to finish.

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Overnight co-leader Marco Penge was one back with eight holes to play when Dean finished but stuttered over the back nine, while Jacob Skov Olesen and Niklas Norgaard also failed to make late birdie runs to match Dean's score.

Penge's hopes ended when he found trees off the par-five 17th tee and made a bogey, dropping him three behind and allowing Dean - who had finished over 90 minutes earlier - to celebrate the biggest win of his career.

How Dean stormed to British Masters victory

Weather delays earlier in the week left Penge and Daniel Hillier having 31 holes to complete on Sunday, with the New Zealander posting a three-under 69 take a one-shot lead over Angel Hidalgo after 54 holes.

Dean made his early final-round charge by birdieing the second and two-putting from 40 feet to take advantage of the par-five next, then picked up further shots at the fourth and sixth to reach the turn in 32 but still seemingly out of contention.

The Englishman added another at the 10th and posted back-to-back gains from the 12th but agonisingly lipped out for birdie at the 15th, only to move tied for the lead when Penge - playing several groups behind - bogeyed the par-four eighth.

Penge birdied the ninth to reach the turn one ahead but found himself behind again when Dean closed out his tournament-winning round in style, tapping in at the par-five 17th and holing a 10-foot birdie at the par-four last.

HIllier shared second with Olesen, Norgaard and Nacho Elvira, as Penge's bogey-bogey finish closed a level-par 72 and dropped him into tied-sixth, while Dean's victory also makes him the early leader in Team Europe's Ryder Cup Points list.

"It's an amazing day," Dean said. "Obviously it's not been the most conventional last couple of days, but to finish it off like that is unbelievable.

"My goal today was to basically try and shoot under par as well as possible. I'll be honest, winning wasn't anywhere in my thoughts, but just trying to get inside the top 15 to just get enough [Race to Dubai] points to keep me safe for next year."

Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin - a late entry into the field due to LIV Golf's Team Championship being cancelled - ended alongside Penge and Thomas Rosenmueller on 10 under, with Fabrizio Zanotti briefly tied-second until a final-hole triple bogey saw him end five strokes back.

Tyrrelll Hatton carded rounds of 71 and 72 over the weekend to finish on three under and in tied-46th, with Patrick Reed a further two strokes back after closing a final-round 69 with three birdies in his last five holes.

What's next?

The DP World Tour heads to Switzerland for the Omega European Masters, held at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, where South Africa's Thriston Lawrence is defending champion.

All four rounds are live on Sky Sports Golf, with coverage of the opening day getting under way at 12.30pm on Thursday. Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.

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