NORTH Yorkshire's sultan of swing Simon Dyson will be smack in the gaze of the entire golfing globe in Thursday's Open championship.

Dyson has been accorded the privilege of hitting the very first ball in the 134th Open Championship at St Andrews - the revered home of golf.

But the 27-year-old Malton and Norton GC player will not be fazed by the world's eyes being upon him as he tees off the oldest and most prestigious prize in the game at 6.30am because he has a top 30 finish in his sights.

Minutes after being informed that his would be the first shot to be heard across the world from St Andrews on Thursday morning, Dyson was overcome with joy.

"That's brilliant, that's absolutely ace," he told the Evening Press.

"Since I qualified for the Open last month I've been so looking forward to playing in it, but to have the chance of teeing off the very first shot - that's awesome."

Dyson, who is currently ranked 208th in the world, will be partnered in the tournament's first threesome alongside former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia - the American lifted the Claret Jug when the Major was held at Royal Troon in 1989 - and South African Rory Sabbatini.

North Yorkshire's leading professional has never played alongside either, though he met Calcavecchia at a tournament in Ireland last year and found the American to be affable company.

But, added Dyson, who goes into the Open buoyed by his 18th finish in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond: "It's not really about who you are playing with, but about how I am playing.

"I know that it's down to me how I do and right now I feel very good with my game."

Dyson, who this year bought a property in York to reinforce his North Yorkshire roots added: "This will be my fourth attempt at the Open and my second at St Andrews. It was in my first appearance in The Open in 2000 at St Andrews that I came closest to making the cut, missing it by just one shot.

"My intention now is not only to make the cut for the first time, but to finish in the top 30.

"The way I played at Loch Lomond and the way I have improved since appearing in the US Open last month a place in the top 30 is what I am realistically looking for."

Updated: 10:55 Tuesday, July 12, 2005