Joe Dean, a former Morrisons delivery driver, has secured the final place in the field for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale after winning the inaugural 'Last-Chance Qualifier' on Monday. The 32-year-old carded a two-under-par 68 to triumph by one shot in warm and breezy conditions, earning his third appearance in the Championship. He previously played all four rounds at Royal Birkdale in 2017 and Royal Troon in 2024.
From Grocery Delivery to Golf's Biggest Stage
Dean supplemented his income from playing golf by delivering groceries for the Morrisons chain during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is now a full-time member on the DP World Tour. Despite his success, Dean faces a logistical challenge: finding a place to stay in the Southport area, as hotels are fully booked.
"We were fortunate to get a hotel room last night, but everywhere else is booked," Dean said. "With the weather like it is, I could probably pitch a tent next to the putting green. Maybe like in Troon in 2024, we'll find a camper van park, but I'll sleep in the car if I have to."
One-Day Shootout Success
Dean expressed his delight at the opportunity: "It was great today. Any opportunity to get in The Open again, I'll gladly turn up and play. 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. To see the amount of people out here today, it's been great. I think it has drawn a lot more people."
Dean earned the win with his fiancée, Emily Lyle, as his caddie, just a week before their wedding on Tuesday. He joked that the wedding date was chosen because "it was the cheapest."
Fiancée as Caddie
Dean acknowledged the challenge of having his fiancée on the bag: "It is a very hard dynamic. 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 to just talk rubbish too." He added that Lyle played county golf herself, so she knows the game and knows him well.
Opening Rounds with Homa and Stenson
Dean's reward is two rounds alongside American Max Homa and 2016 Champion Golfer of the Year Henrik Stenson. The trio is set to tee off at 7:08 am on Thursday. Dean's journey from delivering groceries to competing in golf's oldest major has captured attention, highlighting the unpredictable path to the Open Championship.
