THE edge was just shaved off Simon Dyson’s return to European Tour action in the 3 Irish Open.

York-born king of clubs Dyson was poised for a top 30 placing going into today’s second round only for a final-hole setback to mar an otherwise solid opening round yesterday.

The world number 75, who is bidding to rekindle his hopes of making the European team for this autumn’s Ryder Cup duel against the Americans, was back to his trademark consistent form at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.

He parred no fewer than 13 holes and was also enjoying seeing the putts drop into the cup after a recent barren spell in which his magic touch around the greens had deserted him.

Four straight birdies from the outset were blighted by a dropped shot on the par-four fifth, but the Malton & Norton GC ace quickly retrieved that lost stroke with a birdie on the seventh to go out in even par.

A run of five pars on the inward nine almost mirrored the start he had to the round, but rather than drop a shot Dyson set himself up for a healthy finish.

He birdied the par-five 16th hole and followed it with another birdie on the 17th.

But dreams of a two-under-par round were thwarted when Dyson suffered his second bogey of the day, on the final hole, to ultimately post a one-under-par 70.

That left him six shots shy of the first-day leader, England’s David Howell, who led a congested field by a single shot after a sizzling 64.