Dyson goes low but still trails Spanish leaders Jimenez and Larrazabal in KLM Open

Three-time champion Simon Dyson equalled his own course record in the KLM Open, but still found himself trailing Spanish duo Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal in Zandvoort.

Dyson carded a seven-under-par 63 at Kennemer Golf Club, matching the record held by himself and four other players since 2009, to record a halfway total of eight under par, one behind Jimenez and his good friend Larrazabal.

Jimenez, already the oldest winner in European Tour history, added a 67 to his opening 64 as he pursues his 20th Tour title and 13th since turning 40.

“This course suits me,” said the 49-year-old, who broke his leg in a skiing accident shortly after his win in the Hong Kong Open aged 48 and 318 days last November.

Larrazabal was the only player able to overtake Jimenez when he played his first 12 holes in five under par, but a bogey at the 16th meant he had to settle for a 66 and a share of the lead.


Missed the cut in his last six events

The 30-year-old, who has missed the cut in his last six events since finishing fourth in the Irish Open in June, said: “I’m happy, I’m hitting the ball as good as ever. I don’t know how many putts I missed today on that back nine.

“But I am on top of the leaderboard at the moment, the conditions were not good this afternoon, it was raining all the way so I am very happy.”

As for playing with Jimenez, Larrazabal added: “It’s always good, we spend many practice rounds together, maybe 95 per cent we play together. We know each other well and have a lot of fun. We have a lot of dinners together.”

Dyson, whose victories at Kennemer in 2006 and 2009 both came in play-offs, carded seven birdies in a flawless round and his only dropped shots of the week so far came with a double-bogey six on his first hole of the opening round.

Paul McGinley and Damien McGrane are just just four off the lead. A birdie on the 18th saw Ryder Cup captain McGinley sign for a 67, while Meath man McGrane added a 70 to his opening 65.

Shane Lowry was next best of the Irish, on three-under, after a 68, one better than Simon Thornton, who also carded a 68.

Fledgling professional Kevin Phelan and David Higgins, battling to retain his European tour card, squeezed into the weekend’s play on one-under par, but Pádraig Harrington and Peter Lawrie, both on level par, missed the cut, as did Gareth Maybin, on three-over.