Simon Dyson returns to form in Scottish Open (From York Press)

Simon Dyson returns to form in Scottish Open

10:24am Friday 13th July 2012 in Sport

FRENCH woes were cast aside in emphatic fashion by York’s fairways flattener Simon Dyson.

After his shock exit at the midway point of the French Open, Dyson returned to impressive form in yesterday’s opening round of the Scottish Open at the Castle Stuart complex in Inverness.

A healthy four-under par round was carded by the world number 46 as he battled to restore his most solid form ahead of next week’s Open Championship on the Lancashire coast at Lytham.

One of the early starters at the tenth hole, Dyson was rapidly in credit when he birdied the par-five 12th. That was followed by a three at the par-four 16th to leave him two-under for the first nine.

That feat was matched on the inward nine, where he collected a brace of birdies on two more par-fives – the 554-yard par-five second and the sixth, which totals 568 yards.

Dyson’s four-under-par total was matched by his playing partners, Scotland’s Marc Warren and Thongchai Jaidee, the most successful golfer in Thailand. Indeed, the trio proved to be the most consistent threesome of the first round as they were all locked with several others in a tie for 20th place.

However, Malton & Norton Golf Club’s Dyson and his cohorts were considerably adrift of outright leader Francesco Molinari.

Carrying on where he left off at the French Open – nine under for his last 17 holes to finish second – Molinari had a chance of the European Tour’s first-ever 59 after ten more birdies in 15 holes.

He had to settle for three pars, but his 62 not only broke the record for the Inverness links, but also matched the lowest round in the history of the tournament.

Said the Italian of the course ahead of today’s second round: “It’s not as easy as it looks and I know it won’t go on like this.

“I thought about 59 on the seventh tee (his 16th), but the last three holes are not that easy.”

Molinari, back on course to retain his Ryder Cup place after last weekend, led by three from Dane Soren Kjeldsen and by four from Essex’s Robert Coles.

World number one Luke Donald began his defence of the Scottish title with a five-under 67, one clear of his friend Dyson and Co.

He reached seven under himself with five to play – that after six birdies in seven holes – but he bogeyed the fifth and short eighth.

“Usually I’m pretty happy with 67, but I’m five back already,” he said. “But there were a lot of positives there after three weeks away from competition.”