MALTON and Norton golfer Simon Dyson will aim to build on his recent performance at the Omega Desert Classic when returning to competitive action at the Joburg Open next week, writes Ian Appleyard.

Dyson enjoyed his best European Tour return for three years when finishing joint 49th in Dubai two weekends ago.

According to his father John, he is now in his best shape for 12 months after recovering from major wrist surgery.

He also feels he was unlucky not to finish even higher up the scoreboard in Dubai.

"His form is 100 times better than it was at this time last year," insisted Dyson senior.

"The surgeons say his wrist will never go again - but I suppose that will always be in the back of his mind.

"However, he played 32 holes on the Saturday in Dubai and was absolutely shattered by the end of the day.

"He was playing well and really looking forward to Sunday's rounds but, unfortunately, his eldest child was up all night with sickness so he didn't get a wink of sleep!"

Dyson, 39, is a six-time former European Tour event winner who was once ranked in the world's top 50 players.

His finish in Dubai equalled his placing in last month's BMW South Africa Open.

It was slightly worse than his 44th-placed finish at the season-opening Australian PGA Championship in December. But while those results earned him prize money of under 5,000 euros, his efforts in Dubai netted 11,076 euros.

He had not enjoyed such a pay-day since qualifying for the lucrative World Tour Championship in Dubai three years ago where he collected just under 90,000 euros.

The Joburg Open is staged at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, in Johannesburg, South Africa, and starts on February 23.