NORTH Yorkshire golf ace Simon Dyson is praying for a 'bold pals' act' to prove him wrong tomorrow.

Dyson is currently taking a break from the competitive European circuit as the cream of the Continent make their final preparations ahead of tackling their United States of America counterparts in the 34th Ryder Cup, which starts tomorrow.

Dyson's instinct is that the current all-round form of the USA team will enable them to pip the Britain and Europe side over the Brabazon course at The Belfry complex.

That will then enable the Americans to hang on to the trophy they so controversially claimed amid ungracious scenes at Brookline three years ago.

Said the 24-year-old Dyson, who, like millions of golf devotees, will be glued to his television between tomorrow and Sunday's climax: "If I am being realistic and honest then I would have to say that I just think the Americans will have the edge.

"If it goes to current form then they could breeze it.

"All of their players are going into the Ryder Cup in good form. So I think they will be that much stronger all around than the Britain and Europe team."

Besides world number one Tiger Woods' victory for the World Golf Championships Trophy in the Amex event for the world's top 50 players in Mount Juliet in Ireland last week, the Americans showed they were in good nick.

Ryder Cup newcomer David Toms was fourth; Davis Love III was eighth; Scott Verplank - another Ryder Cup rookie - was 15th; while Scott Hoch and Phil Mickelson each finished joint 23rd.

Declared Dyson: "All the Americans are playing well at the same time.

"That will give them the edge."

Europe's best-placed performer in the Amex Trophy was Spanish ace Sergio Garcia in seventh spot with Niclas Fasth, one of four European Ryder Cup novices in 11th. Further back was Padraig Harrington, who finished 21st.

Malton and Norton Golf Club star Dyson numbers 'several good friends' within the 12-strong Europe team and he was hoping they would prove him wrong over the next three days of high drama.

Dyson had a close-up view of some of his Euro contemporaries in both the Linde German Masters and the Omega European Masters events and he tipped Irishman Harrington and Yorkshire's Lee Westwood to spring a few surprises.

After a wretched year Westwood, who was coached by Dyson's mentor Pete Cowan, was coming back to some semblance of the form that elevated him into the world's elite at the turn of the Millennium, insisted Dyson.

"Lee is looking better than he has for a while and I know he is looking forward to the three days against the Americans," said Dyson.

"I think our best player though could be Harrington. If I was a betting man I would put money on him being our top points scorer."

Dyson, who returns to the European Tour circuit with next week's Dunhill championship at St Andrew's in Scotland, told the Evening Press that despite all the hype and pressure he would love to be in the shoes of the European team this weekend.

"I would love to be playing in the Ryder Cup," he enthused.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere and it's every player's dream to play in it."

Updated: 11:46 Friday, September 27, 2002