Fingers crossed for Richard Finch and Simon Dyson
What a refreshing joy it was this afternoon (Friday) to log on to the European Tour website to find Yorkshire’s two leading golfers at the top of the leaderboard.
Richard Finch and Simon Dyson share top billing at the time of writing in the Castello Masters, the penultimate event on the 2008 European Tour schedule.
Both are amiable chaps, easy to talk with, eager to help to the press and of course dedicated and determined golfers on the course.
They have had mixed fortunes this year, Finch breaking through from relative obscurity to win in New Zealand and Ireland, while Dyson has dropped from a status among the top 25 players in Europe to the middle of the pack.
Both need a good week in Spain, Finch to secure a place in the top 30 on the Order of Merit - he is currently 19th - to earn a spot in next year’s Open, and Dyson to book a tee time at Valderrama next week for the season-ending Volvo Masters.
Dyson lost in a play-off in the same event last season, but the fact that he has not recorded a finish as strong in the following 12 months underlines his loss of form this season.
However the 31-year-old has shown glimpses of what he is capable of with some sterling rounds this year, the 65 at Sunningdale that booked his place at the Open, and Thursday’s 66 that put him two shots off the lead in Spain.
“It’s the best I’ve ever played tee to green,” he conceded. “It was nearly a perfect round.
“I gave myself a lot of chances and I didn’t ever feel there was a danger I wouldn’t make par.
“My putting was good - the greens were immaculate. I’ve been playing well all season but haven’t been putting well. I’m trying to be more positive and it’s done me some good.”
This time last year, a seventh-place finish at the Mallorca Masters - the Castello tournament’s predecessor - saw Finch, 31, break into the top 115 on the Tour and secure his card for this year.
It set in motion a memorable year that included a maiden win at the New Zealand Open, a victory at the Irish Open and then a major championship debut at Royal Birkdale.
But with success comes greater expectancy, from the media, the galleries and the player himself, and Finch has failed to live up to that tag since his triumph at Adare Manor in May.
Like Dyson he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of, particularly when he stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the Mercedes Benz Championship in Germany last month.
Fingers crossed both men can stay on top of the pile at Castello this weekend and earn their respective rewards of a top 20 spot for Finch and top 60 for Dyson, which would see him return to Valderrama next week.
So when we log on to the website on Sunday afternoon, we’ll find Finch playing Dyson in a play-off for the title.
Richard Finch and Simon Dyson share top billing at the time of writing in the Castello Masters, the penultimate event on the 2008 European Tour schedule.
Both are amiable chaps, easy to talk with, eager to help to the press and of course dedicated and determined golfers on the course.
They have had mixed fortunes this year, Finch breaking through from relative obscurity to win in New Zealand and Ireland, while Dyson has dropped from a status among the top 25 players in Europe to the middle of the pack.
Both need a good week in Spain, Finch to secure a place in the top 30 on the Order of Merit - he is currently 19th - to earn a spot in next year’s Open, and Dyson to book a tee time at Valderrama next week for the season-ending Volvo Masters.
Dyson lost in a play-off in the same event last season, but the fact that he has not recorded a finish as strong in the following 12 months underlines his loss of form this season.
However the 31-year-old has shown glimpses of what he is capable of with some sterling rounds this year, the 65 at Sunningdale that booked his place at the Open, and Thursday’s 66 that put him two shots off the lead in Spain.
“It’s the best I’ve ever played tee to green,” he conceded. “It was nearly a perfect round.
“I gave myself a lot of chances and I didn’t ever feel there was a danger I wouldn’t make par.
“My putting was good - the greens were immaculate. I’ve been playing well all season but haven’t been putting well. I’m trying to be more positive and it’s done me some good.”
This time last year, a seventh-place finish at the Mallorca Masters - the Castello tournament’s predecessor - saw Finch, 31, break into the top 115 on the Tour and secure his card for this year.
It set in motion a memorable year that included a maiden win at the New Zealand Open, a victory at the Irish Open and then a major championship debut at Royal Birkdale.
But with success comes greater expectancy, from the media, the galleries and the player himself, and Finch has failed to live up to that tag since his triumph at Adare Manor in May.
Like Dyson he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of, particularly when he stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the Mercedes Benz Championship in Germany last month.
Fingers crossed both men can stay on top of the pile at Castello this weekend and earn their respective rewards of a top 20 spot for Finch and top 60 for Dyson, which would see him return to Valderrama next week.
So when we log on to the website on Sunday afternoon, we’ll find Finch playing Dyson in a play-off for the title.
Labels: Castello Masters, Open Championship, Richard Finch, Simon Dyson
posted by Nick Westby at 3:40 PM
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