Simon Dyson claims he feels like “the man to beat” anytime The European Tour visits Asia and that may again be the case this week as the Englishman, fresh from his tied third place finish in Malaysia last weekend, defends his crown at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open.
In last year’s event Dyson closed with a final round of five under par 67 to end the brave challenge of Australian Andrew Buckle and capture a long-awaited victory on The European Tour International Schedule.
It proved to be a pivotal moment in the 29 year old’s career and gave him the self-belief to go on to win The KLM Open last autumn, when he defeated another Australian, Richard Green, in a sudden-death play-off.
Those two European Tour titles sit proudly on the mantelpiece at Dyson’s home in York, alongside a number of trophies won during a magical 12 months playing the Asian Tour.
After gaining the second card at the Asian Tour School in January 2000, Dyson went on to win three tournaments and finished the season atop the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
He said: “Because of the year I had in Asia I feel like I am the one to beat whenever I come back. So the confidence is up and even when I am not playing great I come here and get the results.
“I remember the emotions I felt in Indonesia last year when I won my first European Tour title – it felt so good. It had been a long time coming. A couple of years ago I thought it might never happen.
“Thankfully it did and I am very proud to be returning as defending champion. I’m happy with my game at the moment and can’t wait to begin – defending my first European Tour title is something special,” said Dyson.
Last year’s tournament was staged at Emeralda Golf & Country Club but the field faces a fresh challenge this week as the US$1,050,000 event will showcase another of Jakarta’s top golfing venues, the Damai Indah Golf & Country Club.
Situated near the coast at Pantai Indah Kapuk, the golf course escaped the floods that have hit parts of the city recently and is ready to welcome a mix of European Tour and Asian Tour golfing talent for the third co-sanctioned edition of Indonesia’s national open.
Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand won at Cengkareng Golf Club in 2005 and will headline the Asian line-up alongside compatriot and double European Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee.
Marcus Higley, who performed so impressively in finishing tied fifth in Malaysia, will make the short flight over to Jakarta and a second English rookie looking to star again is Oliver Fisher, who returns to action for the first time since tying for 11th at The Commercialbank Qatar Masters.
Ignacio Garrido of Spain, who was third alongside Dyson in Malaysia, is also in the field, as is Notah Begay III of the United States, a four-time winner of the US PGA Tour.