TWO late birdies helped Simon Dyson return to top form at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

The York-born ace recorded his best round of the year, a three-under-par 69 as he established a place just outside the top ten in the money-laden European Tour tournament.

Dyson dropped only one shot all day at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club as his play stepped up a level following his return from surgery to repair a slipped tendon in his wrist.

Starting at the tenth hole, the 38-year-old recorded five straight pars before making his first birdie of the day at the par three 15th.

He finished his first nine in 34 shots after picking up another birdie at the par five 18th but gave it straight back with the only blemish of his round at the 405-yard first hole.

Consistent golf saw further birdies at the par four fifth and the par five eighth as a closing 35 meant he surged up the leaderboard.

Dyson's stellar play left him in tied-12th place and only a shot off world number one Jordan Spieth and fellow Yorkshire sensation Matthew Fitzpatrick.

He was due to be in the first group teeing off the first hole today for his second round at 3.20am British time.

Knaresborough's John Parry also has every chance of making the weekend following an opening level par 72.

Birdies at the third, 11th and 18th were offset by bogeys at the sixth, ninth and 16th and left him tied for 59th place.

The American amateur Bryson DeChambeau, the US Amateur Champion, leads the way at the top of the rankings after a stunning eight-under-par 64.

Henrik Stenson is a shot further back with Braden Grace and four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy both well in the hunt at six under.