Simon Dyson returns to the European Tour this week for the first time since he was put on probation for deliberately tapping down a spike mark late last year.
In other words, things could get awkward.
In December, the European Tour found that Dyson’s conduct “involved a momentary aberration, not a premeditated act of cheating” when he tapped down a spike mark in his line at the BMW Masters. Nonetheless, the three-man disciplinary panel slapped him with more than $45,000 worth of fines for what they deemed a “serious breach” of the circuit’s code of conduct. Also, if he violates any rule during the next 18 months, Dyson will serve a two-month suspension.
This week in Abu Dhabi, a report has already surfaced that players are distancing themselves from the 36-year-old. The Daily Mail reported Monday that a “well-respected” player called the issue “hot potato” and said that he did not want to be paired with Dyson.
“We just have to put the blinkers on and get on with it,” the player said, according to the report.
