Dyson sets pace on return to China
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, April 25, 2014
Simon Dyson, who was handed a suspended two-month ban for cheating in December, fired a 5-under-par 67 to grab a share of the first-round lead at the China Open yesterday.
The Englishman fired six birdies and a lone bogey in his round in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, to end the day tied with big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros at the top of a congested leaderboard.
"The first nine holes I played was the best I have played for quite some time," Dyson told the European Tour. "I missed two fairways just, and didn't miss a green so gave myself a lot of chances which is always nice."
The 36-year-old has enjoyed previous success in China, winning the event in 2000 as well as the Hong Kong and Macau Opens. But it was in Shanghai in October where he was disqualified from the BMW Masters and hit with a fine for fixing a spike mark on the line of a putt that led to his suspended ban.
Quiros won the last of his six European Tour titles in 2011 and his world ranking has since slumped to a lowly 240 but the Spaniard showed that his game was heading in the right direction.
Four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 13th put him in pole position to end his trophy drought.
Defending champion Brett Rumford of Australia made a strong start in his bid to become the first man to successfully defend the title after a 68 left him in a group of six players tied for third.
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin was leading the tournament at 6 under before a horror quadruple-bogey eight on the par-4 15th threw his charge off course but he ended the day with a birdie for a 3-under 69 and a share of ninth.
That scored was matched by England's Ian Poulter, who had four birdies in his round to sit alongside compatriot Simon Khan and home favorite Wu Ashun.
World No. 3 Henrik Stenson, who can jump ahead of Tiger Woods and take top spot in the rankings with victory, suffered a fourth bogey of the day on the last for a 71.
China's 15-year-old Guan Tianlang, who became the youngest player to make the cut at the Masters last year, was level with Swede Stenson. "I think today I played pretty consistently. My putting feels good, but needs a couple of changes so if tomorrow I get more birdies, it will keep me going," he said.
That score was two shots better than US PGA champion Jason Dufner of the United States.
Play was suspended due to darkness with five players yet to complete their opening rounds.
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