​England’s Joe Dean clinched a dramatic place in this year’s Open on Monday, winning the inaugural Last Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale with an outstanding 2-under 68. The 32-year-old, who once stocked shelves delivering groceries to make ends meet, is now set to prepare for golf’s oldest major.
Dean’s victory came down to the wire, clinging to a one-shot lead on the 18th hole when his ball rolled into a pot bunker. He splashed out with deft touch to within three feet and rolled in the decisive putt to book his spot. The vast grandstands, two-thirds full, erupted in applause, a sound Dean hopes to hear again over the weekend. He finished one stroke clear of Andrew Wilson, while Aldrich Potgieter, who bogeyed the final hole to finish two behind, remains the first alternate, waiting on a potential late withdrawal.
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) introduced the Last Chance Qualifier to offer 12 players a final chance to join the Open field while giving spectators at Royal Birkdale more than just practice rounds. “To see the amount of people out here today, it’s been great,” Dean remarked. “We stopped at a local Premier Inn and a few people asked if we were playing in the qualifier today, which you don’t usually get. I think it has drawn a lot more people.”
Dean will now compete in his third Open Championship, having last taken part at Royal Troon in 2024 after missing a qualifier two weeks earlier. His success at Birkdale was sealed by a strong back nine, including a crucial 6-iron on the par-5 14th that rode the wind to within four feet of the pin. “Probably the best 6-iron I’ve ever hit,” he said with a smile.
Dean’s Open debut was at Royal Birkdale in 2017, where he tied for 70th. At the moment, he sits 268th in the world rankings and 67th in the Race to Dubai, with a wedding scheduled for Tuesday. “It was cheaper,” he quipped about the unusual timing.
Beyond the fairways, Dean stands out in the field for his unconventional path to the Open: during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, he took on a part-time groceries delivery job to fund his career when he didn’t hold a tour card, continuing for nearly four years. “I had a great time doing it,” he recalled. “Met some really good friends and it grounded me really well.”
Wilson birdied the 17th to keep his momentum, but ultimately settled for par on the closing holes. Potgieter’s late prospects faded with a roll-off the 17th and an unfortunate bounce into a pot bunker on the 18th, erasing any chance of securing a spot at the main event. Potgieter now waits on a potential withdrawal before Thursday to gain entry to the Open.
The Last Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale has offered a renewed sense of drama and accessibility for fans, delivering a compelling narrative of perseverance and opportunity. As Dean celebrates his hard-earned qualification, golf fans can look forward to what promises to be a memorable Open week, with a field enriched by a story of grit, determination, and unlikely paths to the legendary championship.