AS he heads for the desert North Yorkshire golf ace Simon Dyson is plotting an early return to avoid burn-out, writes Tony Kelly.

The 23-year-old is to tackle the prestigious Dubai Desert Classic tomorrow and was then expected to tackle the equally elite Qatar Masters as part of the globe-trotting European Tour.

But such was the oppressive humidity and heat of his last event, the Malaysian Open, that Dyson has now wisely decided not to take part in the Qatar event.

Instead he will return to his Malton home straight after the Dubai Classic at the Emirates Golf Club a week earlier than planned for a much-needed break.

After his opening practice session for tomorrow's Dubai tournament Dyson told his father John that after talks with coach Pete Cowan he had opted to miss out on the Qatar Open.

"He just feels that the Malaysian Open took such a lot out of him that her would be better served getting a breather," said Dyson senior.

Evidence of how draining the event was in Kuala Lumpur was provided by six-times major champion Nick Faldo who, after missing the halfway cut, said he had never experienced heat and humidity like it in more than 20 years' competitive play.

Dyson finished the Malaysian Open four-under par for one of his steadiest series of scores. It also extended his record of being the only member of the current European Tour to qualify for the latter half of the first nine tournaments.

But as he explained to his father, after the Tour moved from Australia to the far East several of Dyson's peers bypassed the Singapore and Malaysian championships for a breather, a course of action that the Malton and Norton star wished he had also followed.

Now Dyson, who has already cleared £72,000 in prize money in the opening two months of the tour, is ready to take a break after hopefully enjoying a desert storm in Dubai.

Updated: 11:50 Wednesday, March 06, 2002