Gulf hat-trick in swing for York’s Simon Dyson (From York Press)

Gulf hat-trick in swing for York’s Simon Dyson

11:57am Wednesday 16th January 2013 in Sport By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

CLUB class Simon Dyson has been given an early start in the opening round of the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship tomorrow.

Bidding to quickly improve a world ranking that has fallen from 63 to 71 after last week’s Volvo Champions tournament in South Africa, the York-born ace is among the first three-balls out at the Abu Dhabi course.

The 35-year-old, who has six European Tour titles under his belt, is partnered by Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Hennie Otto of South Africa – each of whom boast a brace of European tour crowns.

The Abu Dhabi Championship, whose prize fund totals $2.7 million, is the first of three successive Gulf States tournaments attempted by Dyson and completed by the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, both with prize funds of $2.5 million.

Tomorrow’s event also includes a three-ball of world number one Rory McIlroy, fresh from his record-breaking £80 million sponsorship deal with sports manufacturing giants Nike, world number two Tiger Woods and Germany’s former world number one Martin Kaymer.