GOLFER Simon Dyson today sacrificed a possible appearance in The Open to attend the birth of his second child.

The Malton & Norton Golf Club ace had made no secret of his intention to skip final qualifying at Woburn due to a clash with his wife's due date.

Baby daughter Charlotte arrived this morning, and Dyson will now miss The Open, which starts at Royal Troon in a fortnight.

The York-born six-time European Tour winner finished ninth in the tournament only five years ago - but his career has stalled over the last 12 months, mainly as a result of wrist surgery.

Tomorrow, though, Dyson will nevertheless fly over the Channel in readiness for the 100th French Open in Paris, which starts on Thursday.

He will be back among the leading lights of the game, with both Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Danny Willett having opted to play, heading an illustrious cast that also includes nine Major winners, 21 European Ryder Cup stars and 31 of the top 100 ranked players in the game.

Dyson had suffered fresh disappointment last weekend when missing the cut at the BMW International Open in Germany. He returned a score of level par in both of the first two rounds but, agonisingly, still missed out by a single shot.

According to father John, who lives in Huntington in York, his son's game is still being affected by wrist trouble.

"It was always going to be a slow process and it could take all year for him to get back playing how he was," said Dyson senior. "His wrist doesn't hurt now but he is still struggling to get the club out at the top of his swing.

"He was disappointed to miss the cut in Germany but he was pleased with how he played," he added. "Simon felt he was driving well - and that has always been the best part of his game."

It is now 12 months since Dyson underwent surgery to repair a slipped tendon in his left wrist and just a few weeks since being given steroid injections in a bid to boost his recovery.

There is a possibility now, according to his father, that Dyson will undergo surgery for a second time in November should things not improve.