Dan Bradbury says his DP World Tour journey so far has far exceeded his expectations as he makes his 100th start at the DS Automobiles 83° Open d'Italia.
Since making his debut as a professional at the Cazoo Classic on home soil in July 2022, the Englishman has won three DP World Tour titles.
The most recent of those came earlier this season at the Joburg Open where he became a two-time champion, having first won the event as an invite in just his third start on golf's global Tour in November 2022.
In between those two victories in South Africa, he won the FedEx Open de France - the oldest national open in Continental Europe - in 2024 and this season his career prize money on tour has gone beyond three million euros.
Bradbury opened with a three-under-par 68 on Thursday at Circolo Golf Torino to sit three shots adrift of the early clubhouse lead and was in reflective mood after his round.
"It’s pretty cool [to reach my 100th start]," he said.
"When I got a couple of invites back in 2022, I didn’t think I’d be here and happy to have done it so quickly.
"I have seen the world. I have been to so many places that I would never have gone to without the DP World Tour so that’s been amazing.
"Obviously, the three wins are the highlights.
"There’s been plenty of other highlights along the way. A lot of it is the people you meet and the places you go to. It’s really special."
Bradbury arrives in Italy in eighth place on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and well on track for his career-best season-long performance, having missed out on the lucrative DP World Tour Play-Offs in the UAE last year.
After this week, he is due to play at the BMW International Open and the Genesis Scottish Open - co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR - before a potential appearance at The Open, the final Major Championship of the year.
The leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut in Italy will earn a place at Royal Birkdale next month, but that isn't the only route for Bradbury, who is in line to benefit through a pathway for the top five players not otherwise exempt who are in the top 20 on the Race to Dubai at the end of next week.
With confidence high, former Yorkshire Boys' captain Bradbury, who doesn't turn 27 until next month, is understandably looking forward with optimism.
Asked whether he believes his career is only getting better, he said: "I would like to hope so.
"One of my strengths in amateur golf as a junior growing up was every year getting better and better.
"That’s always been my goal since turning pro, just keep improving. If you never take a step backwards, I am going to be in a good place.
"This year has been a good start, plenty more to go. Just see if I can keep it going."
