England's Joe Dean wins Last-Chance Qualifier to secure final place at The 154th Open
Sheffield native holds his nerve in a one-day shootout to earn his third Open Championship appearance at Royal Birkdale
Korea - England’s Joe Dean has successfully punched his ticket to The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, clinching the final spot in the 156-player field after a thrilling victory in the inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier on Monday.
The 32-year-old held his nerve in warm and breezy conditions on the iconic Southport links, carding a two-under-par 68 to secure a one-shot triumph in the winner-takes-all, 18-hole shootout. The new qualifying enhancement, designed to generate drama and excitement for fans, saw a select group of 12 players battle it out for a singular dream opportunity.
Dean’s round was highlighted by a spectacular eagle on the par-five 14th hole, which he set up with a massive drive before hitting what he described as “probably the best 6-iron I’ve ever hit” from 250 yards out straight downwind. Alongside two birdies and two bogeys, his ability to string together three crucial closing pars allowed him to finish one stroke clear of fellow Englishman Andrew Wilson. South African Aldrich Potgieter finished third following a level-par 70.
“It was great today. Any opportunity to get in The Open again, I’ll gladly turn up and play,” said Dean, who notably tied for 25th at The Open in 2024. “One-day events, I seem to play better. I don’t quite know why, the mentality of trying to keep the same throughout any round. I don’t know if I got used to it a bit more and it was sort of just a one-round shoot-out.”
The victory earns Dean his third career appearance in golf’s original Major, having previously played all four rounds at Royal Birkdale in 2017—where he similarly tied for first in Final Qualifying at Notts Hollinwell—and at Royal Troon in 2024.
The Last-Chance Qualifier was introduced following a comprehensive fan survey by The R&A, which revealed a strong desire among spectators for more live golf, deeper engagement, and additional opportunities to celebrate the Championship’s unique traditions onsite. Dean praised the electric atmosphere, noting, “To see the amount of people out here today, it’s been great. I think it has drawn a lot more people.”