SIMON Dyson gets a chance to acclimatise himself at the course which will play host to the Ryder Cup when he tees off in the Celtic Manor Wales Open tomorrow.

The North Yorkshire golfer, who boosted his chances of playing in the sport’s premier team event in October following a tenth place finish in last week’s Madrid Masters, is one of a host of contenders competing in the dress rehearsal on the Twenty Ten Course.

Colin Montgomerie, who captains the European team looking to regain the trophy, will also be taking part in the £1.8 million tournament and a good performance could see Dyson catch his eye.

Under Montgomerie’s instructions, the course has undergone substantial redevelopment. Purpose built to host the Ryder Cup, it features water on six of the last eight holes.

Montgomerie and Dyson will be joined by Madrid winner Luke Donald, and ten other players who have played in a selection of the past four Ryder Cups.

Celtic Manor’s director of golf courses, Jim McKenzie, said Montgomerie and company would get the chance to experience the final tweaks which have been applied to the layout. “We’ve deepened a number of bunkers with larger faces and the rough will certainly be consistently thicker than it has been in previous years,” said McKenzie.

“The greens will be a lot firmer which has always been a high priority for Colin Montgomerie.”