SIMON Dyson achieved his aim of making the cut in the Open Championship - but it could have been even better for North Yorkshire's tsar of par.

For the second day running Dyson enjoyed the distinction of heading the Open, only in Friday's second round he was among a pack of stars on six-under bracketed with world number one Tiger Woods at the top of the leaderboard.

Unfortunately for the Malton and Norton Golf Club player his round slipped away at the 14th hole, aptly titled Long, as it is St Andrews' longest at 618 yards. Dyson bogied the par-five monster and then dropped shots at the next two holes to take him to one-under for the day and three-under for the championship.

Up to then Dyson's performance had been flawless. He mixed pars with birdies on the second, fifth, ninth and tenth holes that, added to his opening day two-under 70, put him on six-under. It was that triple anguish from 14 to 16 that unravelled his bid to become the leading Brit in the clubhouse.

He said: "I pulled my drive a little bit on the 14th and had to play the ball out sideways. Then I didn't get up and down so I scored a bogey.

"The next hole I pulled it a little left, hit the rough and got a flier that went right up the back of a bunker. So that was another bogey.

"I then hit a three-iron off the 16th tee and it went 250-yards and straight into a bunker so I had to play out backwards. It was a shame because I did not hit too many bad shots and then hit two bogeys on the spin."

However, Dyson displayed admirable character in bouncing back to par both the 17th and 18th holes, almost pinching a birdie on the last when a ten-footer lipped the hole. That put him on 71 and a three-under half-way total of 141 - eight shots behind runaway leader Woods

The York-based ace has previously missed the chance to play for a slice of the £4m prize fund in the three times he has been in the Open but is delighted with his form this time.

He said: "I am pleased with my game. It is going really well. I have played some good golf over the last couple of days and it has been consistent.

"I have not hit too many wayward shots. I am striking the ball well and hitting it straight, so then it is all about the bread and butter.

"When I was six-under-par I looked at the scoreboard and my name was at the top and I said to my brother 'that's a nice sight isn't it?' I just hope my girlfriend got a photograph of it."

He was due out this afternoon with Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee - both players among a 14-strong group including stars like Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Sandy Lyle, Retief Goosen, Miguel Angel Jiminez and US Open champion Michael Campbell on three under.

But Dyson is not overawed to be in such stellar company and is determined to enjoy the final two rounds.

"My game is has come on a lot in the last few weeks I have been working with my coach and psychologist and everything I going well," he said.

"I always used to have a bad shot in my game whereas at the moment I am not having that. Hopefully the more the confidence builds the better and easier it will get. It will hopefully be a good month. I am looking forward to it.

Leading the chase to catch Woods is Colin Montgomerie, who produced a late charge to get within four strokes of the American star whom he was partnering today.

Updated: 08:57 Saturday, July 16, 2005