Rollercoaster ride for Simon Dyson in Dubai Desert Classic (From Gazette & Herald)

Rollercoaster ride for Simon Dyson in Dubai Desert Classic

10:31am Friday 5th February 2010

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A ROLLERCOASTER of an opening day ended with Simon Dyson rallying to a challenging position going into today’s second round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

The York-born swing-master finished on a healthy one-under-par 71, just three shots off the lead held by a gaggle of players at the wind-blown Emirates Golf Club.

World number 48 Dyson opened the first round in barnstorming fashion with no fewer than three birdies in the opening four holes – the first, third and fourth.

At that point the 32-year-old was joint third in the field.

The Malton & Norton GC ace’s surge stalled with a dropped short on the par-four sixth hole, which then initiated a mini-slump in which shots were dropped on three of four holes – the ninth, 11th and 12th.

However, Dyson’s renowned Yorkshire grit came back to the fore with an immediate response as he birdied the par-three 13th to get him back to level par.

And on the penultimate hole, the 359-yard par-four 17th, Dyson collected another valuable birdie for his 71 and a share of 19th place.

That left him three off a modest pace set by no fewer than six players, from as many nations, on 68 – India’s Jeev Singh, Stephen Dodd from Wales, Italy’s Francesco Molinari, Sweden’s Alexander Noren, South African ace Charl Schwartzel and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

• Don’t forget to get your copy of The Press tomorrow for an in-depth and expert analysis of York’s leading golfer.

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