SIMON Dyson's hectic start to 2002 continues with a drive towards a one-over-the-eight tonic tomorrow.

That's when the 23-year-old North Yorkshire ace takes a crack at the Malaysian Open at the Royal Selangor Club in the country's capital of Kuala Lumpur.

Despite a miserable finale to the Singapore Masters, where he finished 17 shots off the pace, the 23-year-old Dyson heads into the Malaysian Open and its winner's prize of £116,000 as the European Tour's most consistent performer since the January start to the current season.

The Malton and Norton player is the only player on the tour to have made eight out of eight tournament cuts so far in 2002. Now he is determined to prove himself nine times able in the Malaysian capital, where last year's runner-up Padraig Harrington will also strive to go one better in a field that includes Ryder Cup aces Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam.

Dyson's start to 2002 has already banked him more than £67,000, nudging him into an admirable 18th place on the European Order of Merit before his Singapore sling.

Up to now he has posted three top ten finishes - in Hong Kong, Perth in Australia, and South Africa - with two of those being in the top five.

His biggest success so far was to finish fourth in the prestigious Johnnie Walker Classic tournament in Perth, where he was the leading Briton and where he was only headed by three of the modern game's mega-stars - Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia.

After the Malaysian Open Dyson moves on to the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates GC followed by the Qatar Masters at the Doha club before he is expected to return to his north Yorkshire home for a brief break.

Dyson hailed his eight out of eight feat as evidence of a greater consistency, but he was seeking an improvement in his work on the greens.

"I'm really pleased with the way the season has gone so far. I've been quite solid in every event I've played," he said.

"The only thing is my putting has not been that great. If I can get that sorted then I am sure I will be in for a really good result."

Updated: 12:27 Wednesday, February 27, 2002