NO professional golfer likes to see the number 77 - but York's Euro king Simon Dyson is revelling in the sound of the two sevens.

For it is to number 77 that the North Yorkshire ace has ascended in the world rankings after an astounding second European Tour crown sealed by a dramatic play-off triumph to land the KLM Open in Holland.

The numbers game from his second Euro title - Dyson's maiden success was the Indonesian Open five months ago - is mind-boggling.

In toppling Australian Richard Green in the play-off, the 28-year-old collected his first ever six-figure cheque, a cool £180,000, which raised his 2006 earnings to beyond £620,000. The victory - his first Euro glory on European soil - elevated him to 14th in the European Tour Order of Merit. But it's that 77 that so has thrilled Dyson's heart.

"Number 77 in the world, number 14 in Europe - it's got a great ring to it and it's a beautiful feeling," declared the two-time Euro winner ahead of a fortnight's break as the final Major of the season, the USPGA championship starts in 48 hours' time.

"But now I have another couple of numbers on my mind - breaking into the world's top 50 and winning a third European crown this year. I've won two, so why not go for three."

Dyson's avowed aim at the outset of 2006 was to break his Euro Tour duck - done now at the double - and gatecrash the world's leading 100 players.

He has shattered both barriers in stunning fashion and buoyed by the confidence of a year to remember, he is determined to drive on to even greater heights.

"My coach Pete Cowen said to me before the final round when I was lying second that no-one really remembers who finishes runner-up, it's who finishes first that they will remember. I've won two now and there's no reason why I should not go for more," added the Malton and Norton Golf Club star.

Besides his new-found determination and confidence, Dyson's upswing in form has coincided with a change to his putting technique. He now addresses the ball with a wider stance, a modification suggested by his elder brother Nick.

He said: "I was getting a bit of a buffeting by the wind one day and Nick said why didn't I stand just a bit wider. Since then the putts have been dropping in as they did in Holland.

"It was a fantastic win at the KLM and I'm so chuffed for the people around me - my family, my girlfriend Sarah, my caddie Guy Tillings, and my coach Pete," enthused the KLM king.

"I just want this year to go on and on," he enthused as he rested before plotting his return to the Tour in just over a fortnight's time in the BMW International Open in Munich starting on August 31.