SIMON DYSON endured a difficult weekend as the Alstom Open de France reached a climax in Paris.

The York-born golfer carded a four over par 75 on Saturday and closed out the tournament with a three over par 74 yesterday to finish on nine over par.

The Malton & Norton Golf Club ace failed to break par during the tournament, having had rounds of 73 and 71 on the opening two days.

In round three, four shots went astray in three holes around the turn.

A six on the par five third hole was clawed back on the seventh, but a bogey on the long ninth was followed by a bogey at the tenth and a double bogey five at the 11th.

He completed a full set of bogeys on the par fives at the 14th and he ended the day on six over for the tournament after a birdie at the 15th.

The turn was again troublesome yesterday. A bogey at the eighth was followed by a birdie at the ninth before four shots were dropped on the tenth and 11th.

A birdie at the 14th put Dyson back onto nine under overall, which was enough to earn him a share of 48th place.

Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell produced a brilliant final round to overturn an eight-shot deficit and successfully defend a tournament for the first time in his career.

McDowell carded a closing 67 at Le Golf National, the joint-lowest round on a wet and windy day.

But the former US Open champion also had plenty of help from American Kevin Stadler, who missed from two feet for par on the 18th to force a sudden death play-off.