LONG-HITTING restored North Yorkshire's iron man Simon Dyson to contention for a strong final push in the Abu Dhabi Championships, writes Tony Kelly.

Dyson shook off his disappointing one-over-par opening round 73 by carding a one-under 71 yesterday to strengthen his resolve to improve his world ranking from 68 as he went into today's third round in the event carrying prize money of $2 million.

The 30-year-old Dyson started yesterday's second round with a bang.

He took on the 600-yard second hole - the longest on the Abu Dhabi course in the United Arab Emirates - and bagged a precious birdie.

The Malton and Norton Golf Club star repeated the feat on the par-five seventh, another big 'un at 572 yards and, with a further birdie on the par-five tenth, Dyson, right, was looking poised for an excellent score.

But his day was marred by dropped shots on the 11th and 14th holes to leave him 13 adrift of halfway leader Michael Kaymer. The German, who followed his first round 66 with an even better 65, was six shots clear of the rest of the field.