THIRD time plucky will be The Open aim fore-square in the sights of North Yorkshire king of swing Simon Dyson.

Tomorrow Dyson embarks on his third assault on golf's most prestigious championship when he makes his debut at the Royal Troon course.

Back in the year 2000 in the Millennium Open at St Andrew's and then the following year at Lytham St Anne's Dyson's Open experiences were shut out at the mid-way point with the Malton and Norton ace failing to make the respective cuts.

So he stressed to the Evening Press today that his first priority will be to negotiate the opening two rounds well enough to go into Saturday and Sunday's 'business end' of the tournament.

"That's got to be the main aim. It's been some achievement to get here, but now I want to go on and play the full four days. Now that will be some achievement," Dyson explained.

"It's just so great to be among the world's best players at what is the ultimate event.

"I was absolutely delighted that I qualified - totally over the moon. Now I can't wait to get out there and see what I can do."

Dyson (pictured right) was always going to attempt the qualification route in Scotland rather than the earlier pre-qualifier tournament at Sunningdale, but he revealed how he did not bring any luggage with him to Glasgow Gailes other than an overnight bag.

"I didn't want to count my chickens," Dyson. "So when I did qualify I then had to drive back home again and come back up here to Troon. However, it was a nice sacrifice to have had to make."

Dyson's tilt at accomplishing his aim of reaching the second half of The Open at one of the toughest links courses north of the border has coincided with him hitting some of the best form of his still fledgling four-year professional career.

The metal and woods-wielder fired a course record six-under-par 65 to open his qualifying attempt at the Glasgow Gailes course in the final pre-qualifying competition. When he followed that up with a one-over-par 72 he strolled into The Open four shots clear of his nearest rival.

And before qualifying Dyson has enjoyed several impressive outings in Europe and Asia in his battle to regain the European Tour card he lost by a fraction last winter.

Pre-qualified for several 2004 Euro events, Dyson was runner-up in the BMW Asian Open, which has joint European and Asian Tour status, and then finished second in the European Tour's Nykredit Championship in Denmark in the space of three weeks.

He followed that double delight with a worthy fourth place in the St Omer Open in France and currently he is lying sixth in the Asian Order of Merit.

More significantly he is presently 75th in the Volvo Order of Merit with earnings this year of just over £130,000. The top 115 are automatically granted their European Tour cards for the following year.

Now flying the flag for Yorkshire in The Open - he is the only player from the county to be in tomorrow's Royal Troon field - Dyson feels far more comfortable in his third attempt at the most renowned of the game's four majors.

"I was more of a rookie pro' when I first played in The Open in 2000 and 2001," ventured Dyson, who will be accompanied around the course by his older brother Nick, who will caddie for him.

"But now I feel like a professional and better equipped to handle it all. I'm also playing some of the best golf I have played for several months.

"I've never played Troon before until my first practice session yesterday. It's a massive challenge. People have said it's the easiest front nine in a major, but that it's the hardest back nine in a major.

"Whatever happens, I am just so looking forward to it. The main thing above all is for me to make the cut."

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, July 14, 2004