Dyson's Dutch glory

Simon Dyson

The second victory of the season by Golfmagic contributor Simon Dyson, at the KLM Dutch Open has catapulted the Yorkshireman into late Ryder Cup contention.

After his play-off victory over Australian Richard Green at the Kennemer Golf & Country Club – with a birdie three from ten feet at the replayed 18th hole – Dyson moves into 19th spot, ahead of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter and just behind Miguel Angel Jimenez in the European points list.

But the 28-year-old from Malton, the current form player on Tour, having recently finished third in Austria and seventh in Sweden, is not expecting a call from captain Ian Woosnam, despite his claims as a strong match-player as Walker Cup amateur.

"I haven’t qualified for the US PGA this week, so I’m taking a couple of weeks off to really get fit for a final push towards the end of the season," he explained.

"My main focus is to finish the season in the top 15 on the European Order of Merit which would open lots of doors for me next season. Now I want to win another win but I'm running out of tournaments. Valderrama [Volvo Masters] would be the icing on the cake," said Dyson.

He also revealed that fitness is a key for him, even though he had trials as a youngster with York City and Scarborough and is the nephew of former Spurs double winner Terry Dyson.

"I’m a different player and a different person than I was and that’s down to constant nagging by my coach [Pete Cowan], my parents and my girlfriend Sarah. It’s all justified."

Dyson warned GM visitors that he was playing well during his exclusive Open Championship diary, despite a disappointing final round of 75 and he returned to finish in a tie for seventh place in the Scandinavian Masters.

In Holland he played himself into contention with rounds of 67 and 71, then two five under par rounds of 66 set him alongside Green on 14 under par.

His putt for par from two feet on the 72nd hole gave him a scary moment when it almost lipped out but he made sure of victory with his shoot-out birdie – a tricky downhiller.

"My first win [The Indonesian Open] felt special but this one means so much more because it’s in Europe," said Dyson, who soars to 77th spot on the World Rankings, a climb of 33 places.

All players in the final round of The KLM Open at wore black ribbons as a mark of respect for Darren Clarke’s wife Heather, who died aged 39 on Sunday morning after a battle with cancer.