Praise from legend Palmer boosts Dyson for Shanghai

In the wake of the Yorkshireman’s victory at the Irish Open in July, Arnold Palmer wrote to Dyson to congratulate him on his victory.

Such a seal of honour on his form prompted him to then go and add a second win of the season in September when he won the Dutch Open for the third time.

“The letter was typed,” said Dyson, “but the signature at the bottom was definitely his.”

Dyson would not reveal what Palmer wrote but any wisdom imparted from a man who helped to change the face of golf in the late 50s and into the 60s and 70s has to be something to be cherished.

Indeed, once his successful season is over he will be framing the note and hanging it alongside those he received from two more of the game’s greats, Seve Ballesteros and Gary Player, following his victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship two years ago.

Of more immediate concern is the £720,000 first prize on offer at this week’s HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

Dyson – who is ninth on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and 32nd in the world rankings – is in exalted company, alongside all four of this year’s major winners and a host of big name winner from across the globe in 2011.

Asia remains a happy hunting ground for Dyson, going back to 2000 when the Malton and Norton professional won three times in the Far East as he sought the kind of form that would steer him back towards Europe’s elite circuit.

“It’s weird the success I’ve had out here and it’s amazing what it’s done for my confidence,” said Dyson. “Every time I come this way I feel as if I’m going to play well. And, though I don’t want this to sound big-headed, I have this feeling that everyone knows.”

Worksop’s world No 2 Lee Westwood has the chance to achieve another landmark in his career, by becoming the biggest earner in European Tour history.

For years the top of the career money list was fought out between Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els, with the South African still topping the charts on £22.4m. Westwood is on £22.2m and knows victory – or anything up to third place – in China will take him to the milestone.

A year ago this week, Westwood climbed to the top of the world rankings and almost justified that status when he finished second to Francesco Molinari.

“I played like world No 1 in the tournament,” he said. “Unfortunately, Francesco played a little bit better.”