Dyson fights hard to hold onto outside chance of major glory

Yesterday's score means the 32-year-old Malton golfer retains an outside hope of jetting off on holiday on Tuesday as a major champion.

He is 12 shots off runaway leader Louis Oosthuizen but with similar gusty conditions forecast for this afternoon when the inexperienced South African will tee off as Open pacesetter, Dyson and those players who kept their heads as the wind whipped in off the North Sea will fancy their chances of eating into the deficit in the benign conditions forecast for this morning.

"I'm striking the ball beautifully and you never know," said Dyson. "I'm off on holiday on Tuesday and it would be nice to do so with the Claret Jug in my luggage. The task for me this weekend is to keep going, and to enjoy myself.

"In two days I've hit only one bad shot so I'm going in the right direction. I'm certainly not out of it."

Dyson's performance yesterday showed how much his two wins last year have matured him.

At the Birkdale Open in 2008, Dyson allowed the blustery conditions to defeat him, an opening-round 81 ending his chances.

But after losing the three shots to the course he had picked up on day one by the time he reached the 11th, Dyson birdied two holes either side of a one-hour delay due to high winds to give himself a chance.

Bogeys at the 16th and 17th that were playing particularly difficult in the conditions, meant a nervy 18th but a par there ensured he had done enough.

"It was absolutely brutal out there at times," said Dyson.

"The pins were nasty and hopefully they're a lot better (today).

"Louis made the most of the better conditions in the morning and fair play to him.

"But the weather in the afternoon was a lot worse than it was in the morning.

"Hopefully I can benefit. The forecast for the rest of the weekend is much the same as Friday so if I can post a good score I might be in with a shout."