Joe Dean is putting final preparations for his wedding on hold after securing a late invite to The Open by winning the Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale.
Dean celebrated a one-shot victory over Andrew Wilson in the inaugural edition of the 12-man event on Monday morning, posting a two-under 68 to secure the last spot in the field for the final men’s major of the year.
The Englishman made his debut at The Open when it was last held at Royal Birkdale in 2017 but struggled during the early years of his journeyman career, working as a Morrisons delivery driver during Covid and as recently as 2024.
The supermarket work has not been required since a runner-up finish at the Magical Kenya Open that February, with Dean now a regular on the DP World Tour over the last three seasons and relishing the opportunity to make his third Open appearance.
“It was great today,” Dean said after his win. “Any opportunity to get in The Open again, I’ll gladly turn up and play. One-day events, I seem to play better.
Dean finished tied-70th at The Open in 2017 and a share of 25th in 2024
“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.”
Dean earned the win with fiancée Emily as caddie ahead of their wedding next Tuesday, with the victory following two top-10 finishes in their last three starts working together on the DP World Tour.
Dean has had Emily on his bag since last month’s KLM Open
“It is a very hard dynamic,” Dean admitted. “Even when things are going well out there, it’s still not a nice walk in the park. It’s very stressful. It’s demanding.
“I will say that the good thing is I’m self-sustainable, so I have the yardage book. I just literally need Em to carry the bag in, probably just to talk rubbish too. She used to play county golf herself, so she’s a good player – she knows what she’s doing. She knows me pretty well, which always helps.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Dean incredibly putted into the water on the 18th green during the BMW International Open
From Morrisons to fresh major spotlight
Dean was played mini-tour golf until progressing through the DP World Tour’s Qualifying School at the end of 2023, with the Yorkshireman still working delivering groceries until the start of the following season.
“I had a great time doing it,” Dean insisted. “Met some really good friends and grounded me really well. My coach keeps saying to me ‘don’t let the game define you’ and obviously it’s not your typical nine-to-five job.
“It’s hard to get out of that lifestyle. I’ve just had two weeks off at home and it has been really difficult to switch off and to try and relax in this. I need to work on that a bit better and put all the things in place to keep my mind occupied.
“Obviously it’s a great opportunity to be able to play golf for a living and I’m really thankful for it.”
He was included in the Last-Chance Qualifier after narrowly missing out on a spot via Final Qualifying, with Wesley Bryan – a former PGA Tour player turned YouTube golfer – and ex-Amateur Champion Aldrich Potgieter among the others involved.
Wesley Bryan, with Peter Finch as his caddie, finished 10th in the 12-man field
“To see the amount of people out here today has been great,” Dean said. “We stopped at a local Premier Inn and we had a few people asked if we were playing in the qualifier today, which obviously you don’t usually get. I think it has drawn a lot more people.”
Dean’s reward is two rounds alongside American Max Homa and 2016 Champion Golfer of the Year Henrik Stenson, with the world No 264 now left scrambling to find some last-minute accommodation ahead of a potentially significant week.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch the best shots from The Open Championship archives featuring Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and more
Spectators wearing Dolly Parton-themed shirts were seen following Dean, with her classic hit “Jolene” often chanted at him during events because of the similarity with his name. Expect to hear that song plenty from the record-breaking crowds heading to Royal Birkdale.
When is The Open live on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with wall-to-wall action from the final men’s major of the year gets under way at 6.30am on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf.
There will be at least 15 hours of action on both the first two rounds, with bonus feeds available on Sky Sports+ or the Sky Sports App, with extended coverage then starting at 9am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday.
Leave a Reply