Dyson’s opening 18 holes bobbed and weaved from bogey to birdie and back again before he finished on a level par 72 at the Shenshan International Club in Shanghai.

That left him eight shots off the lead established by first day front-runner Nick Watney after the American hit a course record-equalling 64. Dyson, the world number 47, remained in touch of the star-studded tournament in 38th place out of 78 competitors.

Starting on the tenth hole, Dyson bogeyed the 11th and then birdied the 14th for what proved to be an up and down trend throughout.

He dropped a shot on the 15th, then clawed two back with successive birdies on the next two holes before ending his outward nine with another bogey.

His round was less eventful coming home, carding a superb four on Shenshan’s longest hole, the 603-yard par-five eighth only to then bogey the ninth, his final hole of the day.

Watney led the tournament by two shots with three players – Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and another American, Ryan Moore, all firing 36.

The leading Englishmen were Paul Casey and Nick Dougherty, whose five-under rounds were ominously matched by world number one Tiger Woods.

There is no cut in the WGC event meaning that all 78 players are guaranteed prize money in the $7 million tournament. The first prize totals $1.2 million; while finishing in last place is rewarded with just over $25,000.