AS most eyes fixed upon the quartet of Emerald Isle major winners, York’s Simon Dyson sampled his own Irish high back on the European Tour.

The world number 66 posted a promising one-under-par 70 on the first day of the Irish Open at the Killarney golf and fishing complex.

And North Yorkshire was further well-backed when Harrogate Golf Club’s John Parry carded a three-under 68 to go into today’s second round in a top ten position.

Dyson, playing for the first time since his fantastic finish as the leading Englishman in The Open at Royal St George’s, where he tied for ninth position, was the epitome of steadiness as he parred the first eight holes.

Then came a blow when he, along with playing partner Graeme McDowell – one of the four Irish major winners in the field – bogeyed the par-four ninth.

But on the inward nine, while G-Mac’s troubles deepened, Dyson proved a D-cracker.

He improved his round with successive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes to get his score below par and a top 25 place going into today’s second round.

Knaresborough-born Parry, meanwhile, went out in level par for the first nine holes before flourishing on the inward nine, collecting shots on the 12th, 15th and 17th holes to be in an even healthier position.