​SOUTHPORT, England – Joe Dean, a former delivery driver, earned the final place in the 154th British Open on Monday through the Open’s inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale. The 32-year-old Englishman sealed his spot with a 2-under 68, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 14th, which allowed him to finish one stroke ahead of the competition and secure the last berth in the field. Behind him, Andrew Wilson finished tied for second, earning the first alternate spot, while Aldrich Potgieter was two strokes back in a tie for third after shooting even-par 70. American Wesley Bryan, a former PGA Tour winner who has grown a sizable following as a YouTube personality, fired a 74 and finished in 10th place.
Dean will be competing in The Open for the third time in his career. He previously tied for 70th in 2017 and improved to a tie for 25th in 2024, marking a resurgence in his major championship appearances. During the qualifier round, Dean started with pars on the first six holes before dipping into red numbers with a birdie at the par-3 seventh. He added another birdie at the 11th but dropped a bogey at the 13th to slip back to even before his pivotal eagle at the 14th propelled him into the positive column once more. He then parred his way home, finishing strong with a birdie-free but solid closing stretch, save for a bogey at the 15th that did not derail his overall momentum.
There was a tense moment at the 17th when Dean struck a wild tee shot that veered right of the fairway and rolled over a tall mound where the marshals stand. The ball ended up in thick rough, but he recovered well, finding his way back into the fairway with a precise, strategic gouge shot that helped him salvage the hole and maintain his lead heading into the final holes.
On the broader implications for the competition, the first alternate spot held particular significance because it was anticipated that American Sam Burns, who finished second at the U.S. Open last month, could withdraw before the championship begins to attend to the birth of his second child. If Burns does withdraw, Wilson’s position as the first alternate would become even more consequential, potentially altering the final field’s composition as the tournament approaches.
Adam Schupak, a senior writer for Golfweek and a long-time observer of the PGA Tour, contributed context to this piece. This article originally appeared on Golfweek as a report detailing Joe Dean’s victory in the Open Championship Last-Chance Qualifier and his subsequent qualification for Royal Birkdale, where the 154th Open is set to be contested. The coverage emphasizes Dean’s perseverance, the psychological and logistical pressures of the Last-Chance round, and the implications of Burns’ anticipated withdrawal for the final lineup.