YORK’S most successful professional golfer Simon Dyson is facing a make or break fortnight.

Back in practice after an absence of six weeks caused by a wrist injury, Dyson is aiming at a European Tour return at the Spanish Open in the resort of Terrassa near Barcelona on May 17.

But if practice hitting and specifically-tailored rounds aggravate the tendon injury that has blighted this year, then the 38-year-old faces having to undergo major surgery to rescue his 15-year career as a leading pro.

Said Dyson: “I am hoping that the rest I have had and the schedule I have planned this week and next will ensure the injury doesn’t flare up again.

“If it’s okay then I’ll play in Spain. If it’s not then I’ll have to take the operation option.”

Confirming that the injury, which has re-surfaced this year after several previous flare-ups, was a slipped tendon, Dyson revealed that the groove in the bone in which the tendon should rest is not as long as it should be.

“Actually it’s the same with both my wrists, but I am hopeful that the physiotherapy I have been doing and the fact that it will now have to be strapped up for the rest of my playing career, I will be able to get back on the Tour next month.”

Early signs were encouraging for the man, who has garnered no fewer than six European Tour crowns since entering the paid ranks as winner of the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in the year 2000.

After his enforced break, his first excursion with clubs in hand was this week when he hit about 80 balls in a couple of hours of practice.

“It went fine considering it was the first day I had used a club in six weeks,” said the Malton & Norton Golf Club ace.

“I was not hitting a full swing. It was just a three-quarter swing with an eight iron, but I got 50 or 60 balls away with no problem.

“The idea now is to step up the practice for the rest of this week and next week just play a few rounds of golf.

“Then, if the wrist holds up I’ll come back to the Tour for the Spanish Open. But I know that if the wrist goes again then...it will have to be an operation.”

Previously plagued by a back injury this year, the current absence is the longest in Dyson’s professional career and he admitted he was itching to get back to the competitive circuit.

“I was just starting to play with more consistency and was looking forward to the Morocco Open (back in March). I was due to fly out on the Tuesday and also looking ahead to the two back-to-back events in China, where I have done well in the past, when bang - this happened on the Monday,” said Dyson.

“It’s been a rubbish year so far and I just want to get back out there and play again.”

In his absence, Dyson has fallen to 180 in the world rankings from a start of the year berth at 117, while even more ominously he is down to 167th in the Race To Dubai placings, where only the leading 60 qualify for the lucrative end of Tour climax in November.