Dyson in step up for Cup rehearsal

The 32-year-old enters a Ryder Cup year on the back of a career-best 2009, which included two wins and a break into the world's top 50.

He also impressed Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie at the Seve Trophy in October when the Scot was a television commentator.

Montgomerie is Europe's playing captain in Bankok this week as he steps up his own preparations for captaining the Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor in October.

Dyson's win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrew's in October came at the start of the points scoring system towards Celtic Manor and immediately after Montgomerie had praised his ability and temperament whilst representing Great Britain and Ireland in France.

He sits fourth on the list with nine players qualifying by rights for Montgomerie's side, and this week offers him another chance to press his claims in front of the captain.

"The Seve Trophy has been great for me," said Malton's Dyson. "But this is Europe that you're representing, it's a step up.

"Colin is the captain and if I can play well and I can make an impression then that would be great.

"It was nice of Colin to say those things about me at the Seve Trophy and then to go and win the following week in Scotland at least helped justify that praise."

Dyson is the only Englishman in the team alongside Swedes Henrik Stenson – whom he partners today in the foursomes against Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng – Robert Karlsson, Alexander Noren and Peter Hanson, Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen and Spain's Pablo Martin.

It will certainly be no easy task for Europe with Asia boasting five players – including Ryo Ishikawa – that won last year's event.

That defeat came hard on the heels of a crippling loss to America at Valhalla in the Ryder Cup for the Europeans and Montgomerie is under no illusions as to how important this match could be.

"It is a very important year for European golf in 2010 culminating in the Ryder Cup in October," said the eight-time Order of Merit winner.

"We have a great wealth of talent in Europe, more so than I have ever witnessed in my career.

"The Royal Trophy is a very good preparation for us in many ways to see how our top players are playing early on in the year while it gives me a great opportunity to witness how they are preparing for the Ryder Cup at the end of the year.

"We have seven possibilities here this week to show off their skills and we look forward trying to regain the Royal Trophy against a very strong Asian team."

The 46-year-old is confident his dual captain and player role will not hinder Europe's chances of winning at Amata Spring Country Club this weekend.

"When I heard that the games were just one game per day then it is possible to play but when you have two matches a day and 36 holes a day it becomes impossible to try and fit in the scheduling," added Montgomerie.

"With one match a day, it is possible to captain and play in the team and it means I am at very close quarters to watch my team players and see what will happen not just here but, of course, later in the year."

Similar to the Ryder Cup format the Royal Trophy features foursomes, fourballs and singles over the course of three days, with the action starting this morning with the foursomes.

Montgomerie said: "The Friday here and at the Ryder Cup is the most important day to get some momentum going, take the lead and retain that.

"To fight back from a deficit is extremely difficult these days, especially with the quality both here and at the Ryder Cup.

"The captain's decisions are most important on the first two days with regards to the pairings. It is my job to get the team playing as a team on the first two days."

Montgomerie has paired himself with Martin for today's foursomes and they will be up against Japanese duo Koumei Oda and teenage prospect Ryo Ishikawa.v