Yorkshire trio seek happy links return

At the 2010 event that sees golfers play at three links courses before the final round at St Andrews, Danny Willett, John Parry and Simon Dyson all finished in the top five after mounting a sustained challenge for one of the most prestigious titles on the circuit.

Germany’s Martin Kaymer – who had won his first major at the US PGA just a few weeks earlier – beat Sheffield’s Willett by three shots with Harrogate’s Parry coming home a further shot adrift in a tie for third place.

Malton’s Dyson, who was defending the title he won 12 months earlier, earned a share of fifth place to complete what was one of the county’s best weeks on the European Tour.

All three are back this week – along with Hull’s Richard Finch – seeking one of the biggest titles of the year.

Dyson looks best placed to achieve that goal, having recorded three top-10 finishes in his last eight tournaments, a sequence that has seen him climb to 61st on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings.

Willett, 25, has slipped out of the top 60 and into 64th while Parry, 26, sits three places worse off after missing the last two cuts in Switzerland and Holland.

Time is running out on Richard Finch’s bid to retain his card for next season.

The two-time winner on Tour is 22 places shy of the top 110 players who are exempt for next season and in need of at least 80,000 euros to make up the ground.

After this week, there is only the Portugal Masters left in Europe, otherwise he might have to go to Australia and China to preserve his status.

Finch begins his Alfred Dunhill campaign at St Andrews today while Willett, Dyson and Parry all begin at Kingsbarns. Carnoustie is the other course in use.