SIMON DYSON had the ear of The Big Easy as he prepared for the start of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship tomorrow.

The Malton & Norton GC ace played seven holes with four-time Major champion Ernie Els at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Monday ahead of the European Tour's first big tournament of 2016.

The star-studded event sees world number one Jordan Spieth, his predecessor at the top of the rankings, Rory McIlroy, and The Players Championship winner Rickie Fowler go head-to-head in a glittering three-ball over the first two days.

Fowler, asked whether he felt he belonged in the same conversation as Spieth and McIlroy, said: "I may not be ranked as high but I am close. A major would help become a solid part of the talk.

"But I look forward to going against those boys and having a good time. We're all good buddies, so it's going to be a fun walk the first two days."

Also teeing it up in Abu Dhabi and fighting for a first prize of almost 410,000 euros are a host of golf's top stars, including Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter.

Dyson, who also played with Peter Uihlein during his session with Els, partners England's Ben Evans and Spain's Nacho Elvira and goes off the tenth tee at 7.35am British time tomorrow.

He can go into the event in confident mood, despite still waiting to make his first cut since his return from wrist surgery.

Having not made the weekend at either the BMW SA Open or the Joburg Open, the York-born 38-year-old is now looking to cash his first cheque of the year.

But he recorded his first competitive under par round in his last whirl round the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington GC - a 70 - and has been making solid progress with each outing.

Dyson had spent seven months out of action because of a slipped tendon in his wrist and the six-time European Tour winner is competing on a medical extension.

Knaresborough's John Parry, having spent time working in Dubai with coach Hugh Marr as he bids to adjust to his new TaylorMade clubs, also goes off the tenth tee. He will be in the final group to go out tomorrow - striking his first shot at 9.15am GMT.