Joe Dean, ranked 2,930th in the world and working part-time as a delivery driver, secured a "transformative" £170,000 by claiming the runner-up spot at the Kenya Open.
The English golfer, who narrowly entered the DP World Tour via qualifying, shared second place with Darius van Driel in Nairobi.
Dean, employed as a delivery driver by Morrisons supermarket, posted a final round of four-under-par 67, ending the tournament at 12 under.
"It's definitely life-changing. It's the kind of thing you dream about," Dean remarked.
The 29-year-old Sheffield native made it onto the DP World Tour in 2023 but didn't compete until the Qatar Masters in February due to financial constraints preventing him from traveling globally to play.
After failing to make the cut in Doha, he resumed his delivery job at Morrisons, a position he held up until the previous week.
Dean trailed the eventual champion Van Driel by two shots after the first round but matched the Dutch player's performance in the subsequent rounds to secure a joint second place with Spaniard Nacho Elvira.
"Considering the past three or four years, I doubted I'd get another opportunity like this," Dean expressed.
"I still have some challenges to overcome to reach my full potential, but, as with anyone, you have to confront them, overcome them, and keep moving forward.
"I've always struggled with confidence. Entering this week felt intimidating. It's only my second event, and you don't really feel like you fit in or that you have something to prove.
"Fortunately, I was able to quickly move past those feelings and figure out the best approach to the golf course."
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