NORTH YORKSHIRE golfer Dan Brown has won a place on the prestigious European Tour, where he will be playing against some of the world’s top performers.

Brown rounded off the most successful year of his career in style in the autumn, nailing down his place on Europe’s top golfing circuit by coming third in the DP World Tour Championship, the play-off for the European Tour.

The 27-year-old, who is from Romanby, near Northallerton, is now regarded as one of most exciting young prospects in the professional game.

“This is a dream come true," said Brown. "As a young boy, watching my golfing heroes on television, I always wanted to play at the highest level. But I never actually believed I could do it. I’m still pinching myself that I will soon be playing against household names like Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and John Rahm.

“This has been an extraordinary year. Until July, I didn’t feel I was doing myself justice on the European Challenge tour, the competition immediately below the European Tour. But I made a few tweaks to both my driving and my putting and everything just clicked.

“This resulted in my third place in the DP World Tour Championship, which effectively sealed my place on the European Tour. In footballing terms, that is like being promoted from the Championship to the Premier League. It’s surreal.

“One of the key reasons for my success has been the support and sponsorship of the Northallerton-based CTS UK. In all honesty, CTS’s sponsorship has been a game-changer, allowing me to concentrate on my game without worrying about anything else."