Dyson's chance to start making impression

Wins in Holland and at the Alfred Dunhill Links last autumn elevated the 32-year-old Malton professional to a career-high finish of eighth on the Order of Merit and into the top 50 in the world for the first time.

He has made the cut in his three European Tour events so far in 2010 but failed to make an impression on the leaderboard in any during a steady if unspectacular start to the campaign.

But with a debut at next month's Masters on the horizon, and his place in the top nine of the Ryder Cup standings consolidated for the time being, he has no need to panic.

Especially not with a top prize of 931,527 on offer at Doral this week, with 27,779 pocketed merely for finishing last.

Dyson is one of 24 Europeans taking part in the second WGC event of the year, which has attracted a strong field of 68, minus Tiger Woods, who is not expected to return to competitive golf for another two weeks, when the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill is played near his Florida home.

Dyson, who has not struck a shot in anger since losing in the first round of the WGC Accenture Matchplay to Sean O'Hair last month, tees off in the first group out alongside Jason Dufner and Edoardo Molinari.

Rory McIlroy, who spent 90 minutes with Jack Nicklaus at the Honda Classic last week, plays with Phil Mickelson.

"It was great to sit down and talk with Jack and see his approach to winning, what went through his head and what things he might have done differently to other people," said the Ulsterman.

Royal Lytham and St Annes will host the 2015 Walker Cup between Britain and Ireland's best amateurs and America. The Lancashire links are where Bobby Jones became only the third amateur to win The Open in 1926 and in its most recent staging of the championship David Duval won nine years ago.

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