With a jockey grandfather, a bookmaker father and uncle who played in Tottenham’s double-winning team in 1960-61, there’s no doubt Simon Dyson is a born and bred sportsman.

The early indication was that Simon would follow in his uncle Terry’s footballing footsteps – he was a promising footballer on the books of York City and Scarborough as a teenager. But Simon was encouraged to take up golf by his brother, Nick, and by the age of 16 had achieved a scratch rating.

In 1999, Simon’s golfing career began to flourish – he was runner-up in the English Amateur Championship, won the Finnish Amateur title and was a member of the Great Britain and Ireland side which won the Walker Cup at Nairn that year, before turning professional in September.

He went on to win the Asian PGA Tour Order of Merit, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2000 winning three titles along the way. Simon’s breakthrough on the European Tour came in 2006, claiming the Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open and The KLM Open titles.

Simon returned to the winner's podium in 2009 taking the KLM Open for the second time in his career. To add to his tally for 2009 was an emphatic three shot victory in The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship when he won firing a 66 in the final round.

Simon finished 33rd in the 2010 Race To Dubai when his best finish was a tie for second in the UBS Hong Kong Open.

In 2011, Simon claimed the Irish Open title by one shot from Australia's Richard Green at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. He then won the KLM Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club in the Netherlands for the third time, only Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer have won the title on three occasions.

Simon finished 2011 in 10th place in the Race to Dubai and 28th in the Official Golf World Rankings securing a place in each of the four Majors and WGC events in 2012.