Shootout delivers final spot at the Open for ex-Morrisons driver Joe Dean

A greenside bunker shot that landed like a butterfly with sore feet. A knee-knocker of a 4ft putt, thumped into the back of the hole. Joe Dean did not win the Open Championship on Monday – and inevitably will not on Sunday, either – but the drama produced by the former delivery driver from Sheffield fully justified R&A innovation.

It has long seemed unsatisfactory that focus shifts towards those beginning their Open buildup as a tournament concludes elsewhere. Scottie Scheffler missed the cut at the Scottish Open on Friday yet the world No 1 drew eyeballs at here on Sunday as he plotted a Claret Jug defence.

A day later, the Open’s organisers broke with recent form by producing some of the real stuff. The Birkdale scene was all the better for that. For the 154th staging of golf’s original major, there has been the introduction of a last‑chance qualifier. A dozen players, 18 holes and the final spot in the Open up for grabs. Such a simple idea, but a terrific one.

Augusta National would never follow suit, but imagine this to start Masters week? An Open practice day, ordinarily a time for shadow boxing, instead provided competitive and compelling sport. It is believed 1962 in Troon – when Jack Nicklaus made his debut – was the last time Open competitors qualified on the tournament course. For Dean, a little piece of history in front of strong galleries.

The 32-year-old held his nerve to prevail by a shot. He led by three after an eagle at the 14th, but a three-putt and a dropped shot a hole later gave hope to the field. Dean’s 68, including that nerveless par at the last, edged Andrew Wilson into second place. Aldrich Potgieter would have forced a playoff with a birdie at the closing hole, the 21-year-old South African instead slipping to a bogey five.

This was every bit as engaging as the R&A surely hoped it could be. As first reserve, Potgieter has a decent opportunity to feature in the Open.

Here begins a hectic few days for Dean. He marries Emily, who caddied for him, next Tuesday. The Yorkshireman has made the cut on his previous two Open appearances, including here in 2017. As recently as 2024, Dean was behind the wheel of a Morrisons van, having started the job during Covid.

“I did it for four years,” he said. “It was great. I never regret doing it. I met some really good friends and it grounded me really well.

“My coach keeps saying to me: ‘Don’t let the game define you.’ This is not your typical nine-to-five job. It is a lifestyle. It’s hard to get out of that lifestyle.

“I was playing just one-day events at the time, a lot of mini-tours. I got to the point where tour school was starting to get out of reach with the cost it was getting to. Fortunately, I had some really good friends around me. Max, who used to caddie for me, his parents knew some very good people and our friends, and they said to me, do you want to try tour school in November 2023?

“I was like, why not? I have nothing to lose. I got through every stage, got a card and struggled for money.”

The drop-offs continued. Dean’s scenario changed with a second-place finish and £170,000 cheque from the Kenya Open in February 2024. “I never looked back after that.”

This was, however, a gruelling test on a fiery links. “The stress started on the 13th,” he said. “Poor tee shot. Even worse second shot.

“I think I whiffed the third shot and then managed to hit it 10ft for a bogey. It’s such an odd thing, there’s so many variables. It only takes one bounce or one bit of wind to ruin your day.”

At 67th on the DP World Tour Race to Dubai ranking, Dean is well placed to retain his card for 2027. A more immediate priority is finding somewhere to stay for the remainder of Open week. “I’m sleeping in my car at the moment,” he said, joking.

The makeup of the last-chance-qualifier field has drawn some criticism. So, too, has the fact it offered a single Open spot when a higher number could have been possible. Three amateurs were among the dozen participants, plus the YouTube golfer Wesley Bryan. A 74 meant he finished 10th.

A group of spectators following Dean had donned Dolly Parton T-shirts for the morning. Joe Dean, Joe Dean, Joe Dean, Joe Deeeeean. Tee up on Thursday, just because you can.