Golf

Dyson setting aside his troubles to tee off at Glendower

Simon Dyson of England practises ahead of the South African Open at Glendower Golf Club. The Englishman returns to European Tour action in Johannesburg this week despite facing a possible ban over his disqualification from the BMW Masters in Shanghai last month. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images.
Simon Dyson of England practises ahead of the South African Open at Glendower Golf Club. The Englishman returns to European Tour action in Johannesburg this week despite facing a possible ban over his disqualification from the BMW Masters in Shanghai last month. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images.
Thu Nov 21 2013 - 01:00

Simon Dyson will return to European Tour action this week despite facing the possibility of a ban.

The Yorkshireman has not played since his controversial disqualification from the BMW Masters in Shanghai last month.

With a disciplinary hearing to take place in December, he pulled out of the recent Turkish Airways Open but will feature in the South African Open at Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

Dyson was disqualified in China after signing for a card on which he had failed to add a two-stroke penalty.

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The 35-year-old was punished for touching the line of a putt on the eighth hole of his second round, an offence which was spotted by television viewers.

Dyson insisted his actions were an accidental mistake but he was charged with a serious rules breach, for which the most severe punishment could be a ban.

Early starters
He has put that aside for now to compete in South Africa, where he will be among the early starters, teeing off alongside home hopefuls James Kamte and Allan Versveld at 7.10 tomorrow, local time.

Although the 2013 Race to Dubai was won by Henrik Stenson less than a week ago, the tournament is the first of the 2014 series.

Stenson won last year but will not be returning to defend his title due to a wrist injury.

A lot of the focus at Glendower Golf Club this week will instead be on the South African players who make up the majority of the field.

Former US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, the country’s highest-ranked player at 22, has his sights set on taking the title for the first time.

The 29-year-old said: “I want to win the SA Open, but I’m not going to put pressure on myself, that’s unnecessary.

“I know how to win but you can’t get ahead of yourself. Being considered one of the favourites is a confidence boost and I can feed off others’ confidence in me. I’ve prepared well and if I play well, then I know I can win.”

The European Tour next week moves across South Africa to the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane for another event in which Dyson is entered.

Six Irish will be teeing off at Glendower. Joining Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley will be Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Simon Thornton, Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey.