WORLD number one golfer Rory McIlroy might have bitten the dust but York’s Simon Dyson turned up a desert storm to power into the business class of the Abu Dhabi Championship, writes Tony Kelly.

Dyson followed a first round three-over-par 75 with a spirited two-under 70 yesterday to ensure he made the midway cut for his first foray into the European Tour this year.It was a mixed bag, but for the 35-year-old Dyson he re-discovered his touch around the greens. While he rattled in four bogeys, his round was galvanised by no fewer than six birdies.

Dyson picked up shots on the first, third and ninth holes and while his round was punctuated by dropped shots, he recovered with birdies on the 13th, 15th and 17th holes to rise to joint 49th spot, though still nine shots adrift of outright leader Justin Rose.

McIlroy missed the cut after two rounds of 75.