Joe Dean wins Open Championship Last-Chance Qualifier, earns final spot at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England – Joe Dean, a former delivery driver, earned the last spot into the 154th British Open on Monday.

The 32-year-old Englishman made an eagle at the par-5 14th at Royal Birkdale and carded a 2-under 68 to beat 12 contestants in the Open’s inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier. That was a stroke better than Andrew Wilson, who will be the first alternate, and two better than Aldrich Potgieter, who shot even-par 70. American Wesley Bryan, a former PGA Tour winner who has developed a huge following as a YouTube golfer, shot 74 and finished 10th.

Dean will be playing in The Open for the third time in his career after finishing T-70 in 2017 and then bettering that in 2024 with a T-25 result.

Dean made par on the first six holes before getting into red figures with a birdie at the par-3 seventh hole. He tacked on a birdie at the 11th but gave it back with a bogey at 13. He bounced back in fine fashion with an eagle at 14 and after a bogey at 15, he managed to par into the house.

Dean overcame a dicey moment at the 17th after hitting a wild tee shot right of the fairway and over a tall mound where the marshals stand. He located his ball in the thick rough and gouged out to the fairway.

The first alternate spot for Wilson is an important one as it is believed that American Sam Burns, who finished second at last month’s U.S. Open, will withdraw before the championship gets underway due to the impending birth of his second child. 

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Joe Dean wins Open Championship Last-Chance Qualifier, earns final spot at Royal Birkdale