Angry Dyson hits out at R&A, claiming Birkdale is 'nearly unplayable'

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England's Simon Dyson returned a first-round 82 in The Open - including a nine on the 408-yard 10th - and was left wishing the European Tour were running the event rather than the Royal and Ancient Club.

'I can't believe they didn't put the tees forward and I think they'll come under fire,' said the Yorkshireman.

'If it was a European Tour event they would have had a few more tees forward. There was not one and there are only four holes downwind.

'It's a slog - you can't play. You put a four-handicapper on that first tee (a high standard amateur) and they'd probably shoot 100.

'That's no exaggeration. It's nearly unplayable.

'I don't think I've played a par four that I couldn't reach with my best drive and my best three-wood - and there are three of them. That shows how hard it is.'

Told that ex-champion Sandy Lyle had walked in at 11 over after 10 holes, Dyson commented: 'Don't blame him one bit. I felt like it, but I've never done it in my life and I'm not starting now.

'You build up for a massive tournament like this and the weather is the worst it's been all year.'