WHILE The Open watchers gasped at Rory McIlroy’s record opening round of 63, York-born Simon Dyson stealthily cemented his love of all things St Andrews.

Swing star Dyson produced an impressive first day three-under-par 69, which meant that his last five rounds at the home of golf have all been sub-70.

Nine months ago, the 32-year-old swept aside all opposition to seize the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with a 20-under-par total comprising of rounds of 68, 66, 68 and 66.

He was at it again on his return to the Fife-based circuit steeped in the folklore of the game when he posted another impressive score on the Old Course.

The tenth man out on the first day, which started in some of the most benign conditions ever witnessed on the esteemed links course, his start was not what he desired when he dropped a shot on the par-four second hole, known as the Dyke.

But rather than be fazed by that setback, nor by the fact he had gone into The Open after missing the midway cut in his last two outings on the European Tour – the French Open and the Loch Lomond-based Scottish Open – the world number 73 was quickly back into a determined stride.

Dyson bagged birdies on the third, fifth and seventh holes for an outward nine of 34. Then on his way in he found the turn to be almost as profitable.

The Malton & Norton Golf Club star bagged another brace of birdies on the High In and Heathery In holes – the 11th and 12th.

At that point Dyson was joint third on the leader-board, which was headed by 1995 Open champion, America’s John Daly.

However, a dropped shot on the par-four 16th hole marred Dyson’s inward nine. As St Andrews smiled even more kindly on the rest of the field, Dyson went into today’s second round alongside playing partners Soren Hanson (72) and Jason Dufner (73) in the leading 30 players.