The Open: Joe Dean wins Last Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale to seal final spot

The format? 12 golfers. 18 holes. Lowest score wins the 156th and final spot in The Open.

The reason? Organisers the R&A say this event, alongside Tuesday’s Heroes Classic, will “elevate the experience of those attending”. Bringing more people, and their wallets, through the gates, and staying for longer, is very much an intended consequence.

The dozen selected to play all just missed making it via conventional methods and included the highest ranked players who hadn’t already qualified, the runner-up in The Amateur Championship and those who came close in final qualifying.

A 7:30am start on the Monday of Open week is normally the preserve of the hardcore afficionado, diligent greenkeeper and the odd player wanting an early mooch around one of golf’s most famous links.

Hoards of spectators, not so much. The Last Chance Qualifier changed that.

Drenched in North West sunshine, the crowds flooded through the gates early, drawn especially to the final group containing popular YouTuber Wesley Bryan.

He, and brother and caddie George, the other half of the Bryan Bros, were regularly cheered by throngs three to four deep in places, such popularity usually reserved for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood on practice days.

The weather, social media star, and competitive golf added a real sense of intrigue and importance.

The event is expected to help Royal Birkdale break The Open attendance record, with more than 300,000 spectators anticipated at the Southport links over the week.