Simon Dyson returns to competition this week in South Africa despite facing a hearing early month to answer charges of allegedly cheating.
The England golfer will tee-up in this week’s co-sanctioned South African Open and the following week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship and in what are the opening two events of the 2014 European Race to Dubai schedule.
European Tour CEO, George O’Grady insisting Simon Dyson remains ‘innocent’ to compete in South Africa.
Dyson has been informed he has to appear before a European Tour Disciplinary panel hearing on December 5th in London following his disqualification from last month’s BMW Masters in Shanghai.
The six-time Tour winning York-born golfer was observed in TV footage of the event tapping down a spike mark with his golf ball on the eighth green of the Lake Malaren course.
However it has since come to light Dyson was spoken to by Tour officials last May over another incident where he allegedly broke the rules.
Dyson will front a three-man panel comprising a Tour official, a former senior player and a barrister.
If found guilty, Dyson could be staring at a four-month suspension.
While George O’Grady as CEO of the European Tour is disappointed one of Europe’s leading players is facing such a serious charge he indicated Dyson is quite within his rights to compete in South Africa.
“It is disappointing given that Simon is such a solid member of the European Tour for some time now but I am confident the panel will look at all the evidence and deal with the issue correctly,” said O’Grady.
“A mistake has been made and the Panel now have to have a look at that.
“Of course, Simon remains innocent at this point in time so he is quite entitled to compete this week in South Africa.
“Simon chose not to contest the Turkish Airlines Open for his own reasons, so as far as I am concerned he is free to take his place this week in South Africa and we are delighted to have him in this week’s field.”
O’Grady would not reveal the name of the senior tour player ‘so that no undue pressure can be placed on that person’.
