BUBBLING Simon Dyson is banking on a swelter-skelter ride to an impressive finish in The Open.

Tomorrow the 135th Open Championship swings into view at the Royal Liverpool course in Hoylake on the Wirral peninsula in baking conditions. Indeed, such are the breath-snatching temperatures sweeping the country that Fire Risk' warnings have been posted on the links course.

Dyson, who has turned up the heat to scorching levels in his own form throughout 2006, is hoping the thermometer will continue to soar.

For, if they say that some like it hot, well, Simon says he truly does.

Ever since he won the Asian Order of Merit in his rookie year as a professional in the year 2000, the now 28-year-old Dyson has revelled in hot-house conditions where the mercury is distinctly on the rise.

Dyson told The Press this week as he sharpened his game ahead of tomorrow's high noon tee-off alongside former Open champion Mark O'Meara and fellow Euro Tour pro Charl Schwartzel of South Africa: "I hope it stays hot, because I love it.

"I seem to like the conditions when it's sultry and sticky. I've always done well in places like Asia and the Middle East and, of course, I won my first European Tour championship in Indonesia earlier this year."

It is almost 12 months to the day that North Yorkshire's Dyson hit the first shot with the opening drive in the 2005 Open championship at St Andrews, the spiritual home of the game.

Since then it's been little short of a roller-coaster ride for the Malton and Norton Golf Club ace.

Dyson negotiated all four rounds of the 2005 championship making the cut for the first time in four attempts in the game's most illustrious and coveted championship.

As if to build on that success he finished a creditable joint 34th Dyson dedicated himself to a new regime of increased fitness throughout the winter as he honed his ambitions to cracking his European Tour duck and gate-crashing the top 100 players in the world.

The Euro Tour barrier was broken in blistering style in March in the deep humidity of Jakarta when he was crowned Indonesian Open champion.

A further six top-ten finishes have been gleaned along the way elevating him to his current position of 111th in the world ratings. Presently on the European Tour he is now the 25th ranked player with competition earnings so far this year of just short of £400,000.

As if in step with that ascent, he has re-aligned his targets. Dyson wants another European tour title and, as he prepares for tomorrow's battle alongside the world's top golfers, he wants to better his 2005 showing.

"I can't wait for The Open to start it's the best event in the world and it's a dream to be playing in it," said Dyson, who starred at Royal Hoylake when he was an amateur seven years ago.

Before his first practice round yesterday he has regularly familiarised himself with the course by staying with a friend from those amateur days, Ian Keenan, who lives close by to Royal Liverpool.

"My game has been going really well these last few months," said Dyson.

"So I will be disappointed if I don't improve on how I did last year."

Dyson was also delighted to see that another old acquaintance, Selby Golf Club professional Nick Ludwell would also be representing the county in tomorrow's prestigious show on Merseyside.

"I haven't seen him here yet, but I'll hopefully get to meet him over the new few days.

"I hope he really enjoys it, because The Open truly is a great experience," said Dyson, who is due to tee off in the first round at 12.03pm, almost an hour after Ludwell.

FIRE IN HOLE

Spectators at the Open golf championship are being advised to apply due diligence after Fire Risk' warnings were posted on giant leaderboards around the Royal Liverpool course.

David Hill, Director of Championships for the organising Royal and Ancient Club, said: "The fire authorities are close at hand and are aware of all the measures we have put in place."