An Englishman earned the final spot in the 154th Open Championship in Southport, England.<\/p>\n
Joe Dean won the R&A\u2019s \u201cLast Chance Qualifier\u201d Monday at Royal Birkdale, shooting 2-under 68 to best 11 other players hoping to claim a berth in the season\u2019s final major.<\/p>\n
Dean was one shot clear of fellow Englishman Andrew Wilson. South Africa\u2019s Aldrich Potgieter finished third at even par.<\/p>\n
This will be Dean\u2019s third Open start, having made the cut on both prior occasions. He tied for 70th in 2017, the last time Birkdale played host, and tied for 25th in 2024 at Troon. The 32-year-old from Sheffield, who once picked up delivery driver shifts for Morrisons supermarket to help offset playing costs, earned a tee time in this home-country Open thanks to one eagle, two birdies and two bogeys Monday.<\/p>\n
The qualifier was an innovative addition by the R&A to allow players who had come close in Final Qualifying or had performed well in significant amateur events, to have one more chance at getting into The Open.<\/p>\n