NORTH Yorkshire's swing-king Simon Dyson was well in contention after an eagle-eyed display on the opening day of the Dunhill Links Championship.

Dyson posted a three-under 69 at Carnoustie in yesterday's opening round. The 27-year-old, lying 51st in the European Order of Merit and 171st in the world rankings, started his first round with a vengeance with birdies on the third, fifth and sixth holes.

His effort lapsed when he dropped shots on eight and nine, but in a flawless inward nine Dyson again improved his position with a superb eagle three on the 515-yard par-five 14th hole.

That put Dyson in joint 14th place, a mere two shots off the leaders - fellow Englishman David Howell, Italy's Alessandro Tadini and Rich Beem from America.

Under the competition's unique rotation format, Dyson today was due to start his second round at the nearby Kingsbarns course before then moving to St Andrews tomorrow.

The leading 60 players after the three rounds will then meet again at St Andrews on Sunday for the fourth and decisive round.

Updated: 10:40 Friday, September 30, 2005