STRIKING from a sub-par total will give York golf ace Simon Dyson an incentive to push up the cash-laden climax to the European Tour.

Dyson started today's third round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in 39th place and one-under after he followed his opening day 73 with a far more improved twop-under-par 70 yesterday.

The world number 121 lived up to his tsar of par epithet when he carded no fewer than 13 level-par shots at the Jumeirah Golf Estates circuit before breaking that run of consistency and making his first inroads on the course.

Dyson birdied the par five 626-yard 14th hole and then after three more pars again showed the par-fives to be to his liking when he had a four on the 620-yard 18th.

The field was headed at the half-way stage by Henrik Stenson after the Swede followed 68 with 66 to go to ten under.

That put him two shots clear of his nearest rivals, a treble Brit challenge of Danny Willett (69 67), who was coached by Graham Walker, the head professional at The Oaks GC; and Scotland's Richie Ramsay (67 69); and world number one Rory McIlroy (66 70).