Former biker gang member earns spot in The Open

The Open Championship this year will have a lot of new faces, including one who used to be a member of a biker gang. There are a lot of different pathways to qualification for the fourth and final Major tournament of the year, and Ryan Peake just earned one of them and may be the most unique entry into the field ever.

Former biker lands in The Open field

Later this year, several golfers will descend upon Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland for the British Open. That includes Ryan Peake, an Australian former motorcycle gang member who credits golf for helping him turn his life around.

Peake earned entry into The Open Championship after coming from behind to win the 104th New Zealand Open by a single stroke. Had he lost, his Major dreams would have taken a huge hit, but he doesn’t have to worry about that now.

He sank an eight-foot par putt on the 18th hole to avoid a playoff with three golfers including fellow Australian Jack Thompson, South African Ian Snyman, and Japanese star Kazuki Higa. It would’ve been a tense four-way fight for a spot in the Major, but Peake put all that to rest.

The former biker was seen as one of Australia’s most promising golfers before getting arrested. He was a teammate of Cameron Smith, who is now an Open champion and LIV Golf star, when he was convicted of assault while in the biker gang. He was 21 and had to serve five years in prison.

Once he got back out, he picked up golf again and enlisted the help of coaches, friends, and family to turn his life back around. Eventually, he would receive his Australasian tour card in 2025. The New Zealand Open marks his first professional win.

“I always knew I could do it but it was just a matter of when I was going to do it,” Peake said per ESPN. “Along with my family and my team, everyone believed, and most of all, I believed as well.” Trailing by four overnight, Peake put in a 66 final round to win. He had a closing streak of 55 holes without a bogey throughout the tournament.

Peake will now compete against some of the best golfers in the sport in July. “I’ve just changed my life,” the golfer said. “This is what I do. I just want to be here and play golf. The story is what it is. But I’m just out here playing golf.” Already confirmed for The Open this year are Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and several of the best golfers in the world.