NORTH Yorkshire's Simon Dyson was back in the swing of things - and with borrowed clubs too.

The Malton and Norton Golf Club ace posted a superb joint 26th place in the star-studded Dunhill Links championship at St Andrews, where Ireland's Padraig Harrington toppled Argentine Eduardo Romero at the second hole of a sudden death play-off to take home the first prize of £514,535.

Dyson meanwhile was also in the money after shrugging off the adversity of having a 'priceless' set of clubs stolen from his car on the eve of the second day of the tournament held over the Scottish courses of Carnoustie, St Andrew's and Kingsbarns.

The 24-year-old awoke to find the back window of his newly-bought Audi TT car smashed and the clubs with which he swept all before him on the Asian Tour 18 months ago were gone.

Among the stolen clubs was a handmade Ping putter, the theft of which left him 'speechless'.

However, Dyson's former Walker Cup team-mate Nick Dougherty, who hails from nearby Nairn, came to the rescue by loaning him a spare set of irons.

Dyson also borrowed a three-wood from the tournament office, plus a putter from fellow professional Bradley Dredge and set off with his mixed bag.

Admirably Dyson fired a 68, ultimately to prove his best round of the tournament as he finished overall with an eight-under 280 (71 68 69 72).

Though that was some 11 shots off joint leaders Harrington and Romero, it still earned him £28,000 and left such stars as Nick Faldo, Retief Goosen and Ryder Cup aces Darren Clarke and Niclas Fasth in his wake.

But more significantly Dyson's finish ensured a welcome rise in the Volvo Order of Merit rankings to 61st with earnings this year now amounting to just over £230,000.

With just several tournaments now left Dyson is striving to land a place in the top 55, which will then guarantee him a spot in the prestigious end of season Volvo Masters tournament in Valderama in November.

First stop this week, however, was a trawl to the shops to buy a new set of clubs.

Updated: 10:41 Monday, October 07, 2002