Supermarket driver to golf star: What we know about Sheffield's Joe Dean as he qualifies for Open Championship
Joe Dean claimed a one-shot victory at the Last-Chance Qualifier to secure his spot at the Open Championship
Being a sports star often requires a tremendous amount of hard work, determination and sacrifice, which for Sheffield’s Joe Dean even means putting some of his final wedding preparations on hold.
The 32-year-old celebrated a one-shot victory over Andrew Wilson in the inaugural edition of the Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale, meaning he’s now the final person to secure a spot at the field for the Open Championship - the final men’s major of the calendar year.
It marks the latest chapter in an extraordinary rise for Dean, who made his debut at The Open when it was last held at Royal Birkdale in 2017 before a challenging period in the early years of his career, which resulted in him working as a delivery driver for Morrison’s during the pandemic and as recently as 2024.
The supermarket work has not been required since a runner-up finish at the Magical Kenya Open that same year when he won a life-changing prize £170,000 - something which has proven a catalyst for him to now put full focus on achieving his dreams.
"It's got to be [life changing]. It's what people dream of," said Dean at the time, who had to turn down a place at the Qatar Masters just months earlier due to a lack of funds.
"After the last three or four years I never thought I'd get another chance," said Dean.
"Still some gremlins to get past in order to get to my full potential, but like anyone you've got to get over them, squash them and keep going.”
The achievement means Dean is now set up for one of the most memorable months of his life, with his wedding to fiance Emily Lyle in Worksop coming up on Tuesday July 21 - just two days after the Open Championship finishes.
The pair will now be reading greens instead of their vows in the days before the biggest of their lives - and they’d have it no other way.
"A week off would have made the wedding a bit easier but The Open is a good excuse to liven things up a little bit,” said Dean.
And caddie Emily is set to be right there with him, carrying his bag.
“Emily used to be on my bag when I first turned pro, 2016. 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 just to talk rubbish too. Emily's been on the bag for three or four weeks maybe.
“She was a county level golfer, so she knows what she's doing. And obviously, she knows me pretty well, which always helps.”
Alongside this challenge, Dean also has to find a place to sleep with many of the hotels in the local area being booked up.
However, that’s the least of his worries. He joked: “I’ll sleep in the car if I have to.”
Dean is seen as a huge outsider with the bookies to win The Open at odds of 475/1 with SkyBet. Meanwhile, fellow Sheffielder Matt Fitzpatrick is the joint third favourite at odds of 14/1.