WINNING a coveted place in the Ryder Cup will not be at the forefront of Simon Dyson’s mind when he kicks off his 2010 campaign.

Golf’s coveted biennual team championship, when the cream of Europe take on the best the USA has to offer in the sport’s biggest event, takes place at the Celtic Manor Complex in Wales in October, the 37th such staging of the tournament.

Malton and Norton Golf Club star Dyson currently stands sixth in the European Ryder Cup placings – nine players qualify on points standings with three others being wildcard selections by team captain Colin Montgomerie – and so at present is in line to make his debut in the vaunted competition.

However, Dyson who recently turned 32, says all that is on his mind for 2010 is improving on a momentous past 12 months by rising into the top 30 players in the world rankings and into the top seven in the European Order of Merit. He currently stands 44th in the world and eighth in that Order of Merit.

“I’m not going to think about it,” said Dyson about his chances of playing in the Ryder Cup in ten months’ time. “I’ve known players who have tried to build their year around qualifying and it’s ruined their game.

“I’m going to take the start of the year as it comes and see how I go before maybe then revising my goals.”

For Dyson, 2009 was the best of his ten-year career. He captured two European crowns – the KLM Dutch Open for the second time and the noted Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the home of golf, St Andrews.

That silverware propelled him up golf’s rankings from languishing in the world’s top 150 at the end of 2008 to joining the foremost 50 just a year later, and saw him amass more than £1,610,000 in prize money.

But Dyson insisted he could not dwell too much on the past, but rather aim to continue his upswing.

Dyson said: “Winning the Alfred Dunhill last year was absolutely brilliant. It was great to land the KLM crown again but to win something as special as the Dunhill was unbelievable. What made it all the sweeter was the manner in which I won and the fact it was at St Andrews as well. It didn’t get much better than that.

“How to top last year? That’s the best bit about all this. I want to go on and improve, so I want to break into the top 30 in the world and also finish in the top seven in Europe’s Order of Merit.

“Even if I did not win a title next year, but I achieved those two aims, then that would top 2009 for me.”

Dyson’s historic 2009 has ensured him qualification for all four Majors, the first of which will be The Masters at the legendary Augusta course in April.

Competing in that tournament has always been a dream cherished by Dyson since he was a teenager. When he strides out at the Georgia peach course he will set himself not one target, save to enjoy the experience.

“Everything’s booked, everything’s in place and I will have about 15 family and friends out there with me,” he said. “It’s the one I have always longed to play in and I am determined to enjoy the whole experience.”

Confirming he will play more events in the United States – most of the World Golf Championship tournaments are in America, starting in Arizona in February – the Malton and Norton Golf Club star said he will not be turning his back on Europe.

“It’s where I have made my name and it’s where I have had my best golf, so I will be playing the majority of my tournaments on the European Tour to which I am very loyal.”