Joe Dean tops the first Ryder Cup points list for 2027

Joe Dean is the first name on the 2027 European Ryder Cup Points List, after winning the Husqvarna British Masters at The Belfry. It was his first DP World Tour title and the opening event of the qualifying campaign. He began the final round eight shots off the lead, after weather delays pushed the third round into Sunday morning. Two early birdies finished that round, then nine more over 18 holes took him to 14 under par and a closing 63 that equalled the course record. With his wife Emily on the bag, he had a long wait before Marco Penge's bogey-bogey finish confirmed a three-shot win. The victory is worth 250 points. Niklas Norgaard, Nacho Elvira and Jacob Skov Olesen each take 99.75 for a share of second, while Tom McKibbin sits in a group on 45.16 alongside Penge and Thomas Rosenmueller. Dean was playing on the EuroPro Tour as recently as 2022 and won his card through Qualifying School at the end of 2023. He was runner-up at the 2024 Magical Kenya Open in only his second start as a rookie, reached the season-ending DP World Tour Championship that year, and finished second again at last year's Nexo Championship. "All those painful hours and all the work I put into this, it's finally led to something," he said afterwards. On seeing his name alongside past winners at The Belfry, he added: "I think it's going to be a bit surreal." Qualifying runs until 22 August 2027. The leading six on the list earn their places automatically, and Luke Donald chooses the remaining six the week after.