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.
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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.
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
A young visitor shelters in the shade, as players practice a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026.
(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
A young visitor shelters in the shade, as players practice a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026.
(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Spectators shelter in the shade by the scoreboard at the 18th green, as players practice a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026.
(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
A marker for the 13th tee is pictured as players practice a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026.
(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
The Open logo is pictured on the 7th green pin, as players practise a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
People stand on the top of the main grandstand by the 18th green, as players practice a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026.
(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Flags with The Open logo flutter in the wind a few days before the start of the 2026 Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north-west England on July 12, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
(ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Wesley Bryan of the United States tees off on the eighth hole as Angel Hidalgo of Spain looks on during the Last-Chance Qualifier, prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Jordan Spieth of the United States plays a shot from a bunker on the 13th hole prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
A tee marker for the 14th tee is seen prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
A general view of 14th green pin flag during the Last-Chance Qualifier, prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Alistair Docherty of the United States plays a shot on the 14th hole prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
The bag of Jake Knapp of the United States is seen on the 14th hole prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Patrick Cantlay of the United States plays a shot from a bunker prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
A general view of branding of The 154th Open Championship is seen prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan tees off on the first hole prior to The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 13, 2026 in Southport, England.
(Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Jordan Spieth on the driving range during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Tournament signage on the first tee grandstand during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Tournament graphics by the driving range during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
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Photos: Golfers begin preparations before 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
The Claret Jug on display at the driving range during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
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.
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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
