ACE WAS DYING TO PLAY.

Byline: MARK GARROD

SIMON DYSON picked himself up from "death's door" to put Great Britain & Ireland in the driving seat at the Vivendi Trophy.

Dyson suffered food poisoning on the eve of the match in Versailles, France, and feared he wouldn't be able to compete.

But yesterday he and Oliver Wilson made it two wins out of two by beating Henrik Stenson and Alvaro Quiros 2&1 as Paul McGinley's side took a 6-4 lead over Continental Europe.

Dyson, who had only eaten a slice of toast all day after being advised to stay in bed, said:"I was on death's door.

"I was not 100 per cent but today was good and we are gelling fantastically well.

"Paul asked who was my ideal partner and I said Ollie straightaway."

Ryder Cup star Wilson, so down in the dumps about his game earlier this month that he pulled out of an event in Germany, said: "It's still not great but these weeks are different.

"With a partner there's not quite so much pressure."

McGinley's side, made underdogs before the start after six top players dropped out, are on course for a fifth successive victory in what used to be called the Seve Trophy.

Chris Wood and Anthony Wall, both late call-ups, are also unbeaten, yesterday defeating Miguel Angel Jimenez and Soren Kjeldsen 3&2. Nick Dougherty and Ross Fisher won by the same scoreline against Soren Hansen and Peter Hanson.

That match was closed out in style when Fisher curled in a 25-footer for eagle on the 16th.

Continental Europe hit back with wins for Anders Hansen and Francesco Molinari over strong Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy (3&1), while Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Robert Karlsson beat Robert Rock and Steve Webster on the final hole.

CAPTION(S):

DEFEATED Rory McIlroy RELIEVED Simon Dyson