SIMON Dyson will have to display skilful manoeuvring techniques if he is to advance past the midway point of the BMW International Open, writes Tony Kelly.
The York-born golfer toiled to make any inroads on the first day of the European Tour event at the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried course.
His drive to keep on track for qualification for next month’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s in Kent was stalled by a two-over par 74 in the opening round in Germany.
The 33-year-old Dyson, of Malton & Norton GC, was back in action after a fortnight’s absence from the Tour. He started in steady gear with a run of trademark pars.
But he was in arrears when he bogeyed the par-four seventh hole and that deficit was soon to grow even wider.
On the first hole of the inward nine, the world-ranked number 72 hit big trouble when he double-bogeyed the par-four tenth that left him way down the field.
His lone success was at the 13th, where he bagged his only birdie of the day.
With the clubhouse leader going into the second being Sweden’s Henrik Stenson with an eight-under 64, Dyson will need a turbo-charged second round to make tonight’s halfway cut.
Harrogate GC’s John Parry was in a healthier position after a one-under-par 71, while Danny Willett – the Yorkshireman coached by The Oaks GC head professional Graham Walker – was joint third thanks to a superb six-under 66.
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