Dyson can afford to relax after Toms pulls out of Open

Former US PGA champion Toms has a hip injury and pulled out after nine holes of the John Deere Classic yesterday.

He went into the event with a problem, saying: “I’ve got a bad hip right now and just to walk around this golf course is quite a feat.”

Toms follows Tiger Woods, Thomas Levet and Tim Clark in removing his name from The Open starting line-up.

Dyson was in position to qualify off a mini-money list two weeks ago, but was knocked out when Spanish duo Pablo Larrazabal and Sergio Garcia finished first and second in the BMW International Open in Germany.

He will join fellow Yorkshireman Danny Willett, from Sheffield, who qualified for the event after finishing in the top 30 in last season’s Race to Dubai.

Dane Thomas Bjorn, who was runner-up when The Open last visited Sandwich in 2003 and lost a three-shot lead with four to play then, is now first reserve.

He could well play. American Robert Garrigus also withdrew from the John Deere Classic yesterday with back trouble after playing nine holes in five over. He was Clark’s replacement.

Dyson heard the news after completing a four-under-par 68 in the first round of the Scottish Open.

“Get in,” said the Yorkshireman, who played at Sandwich in a British Amateur. “I’m really pleased.”

Having had back trouble on and off for the last eight months he was planning a cortisone injection next Wednesday, although he added: “I never felt it today.”

Lifting the Scottish Open title at Castle Stuart near Inverness on Sunday would take Lee Westwood to Sandwich as world No 1 once more and a seven-under-par opening 65 made him the joint overnight leader with Chilean Mark Tullo.

“The more pressure I’m under this week the better,” said Westwood.

“It’s a nice way to start the next two weeks. You’re never quite sure what to expect when you come to a course that you’ve never played before.”

Tullo, a graduate from last season’s Challenge Tour, still has to qualify for the Open.

One spot is up for grabs to the leading non-exempt player this Sunday providing he finishes in the top five and, if Tullo keeps making 10 birdies in every round, it should be in the bag for the 33-year-old world No 232.

Luke Donald – the player Westwood is trying to dethrone at the top of the rankings – came home in 31 for a five-under 67 matched by Colin Montgomerie.

Phil Mickelson managed only a one-over 73 and may even need a second-round 67 just to survive the halfway cut. Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose all had 69s, while twice champion Ernie Els shot 68.

Westwood and Tullo were a stroke ahead of Ryder Cup Swede Peter Hanson, South African George Coetzee and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.