SIMON Dyson made two statements yesterday at the Barclays Singapore Open: one with his pants, the other with his clubs.
But while his pants were striking red, his clubs helped him finish strikingly in red numbers - and a share of the clubhouse lead after the rain-disrupted second round at the Sentosa Golf Club.
Just before a lightning storm caused play to be suspended for the second straight day, the 30-year-old Englishman fired a four-under 67 for a tie of the lead with Ernie Els on a 136 total.
'It was a really solid round. I hit a lot of fairways and greens and made a lot of good putts,' said Dyson, whose second-round score was matched only by Thomas Bjorn and David Gleeson.
'I'm playing some of the best golf I've ever played.'
First-round leader Els, playing in the flight just ahead of Dyson, kept his position atop the 150-man field after his second-round 70.
Both were among 71 golfers who had been forced off the Serapong course by darkness following a two-hour weather delay on Thursday. They had to finish their first rounds yesterday morning.
And it was Els who emerged with the best score of the opening round, the South African putting the icing on a good performance with two birdies in the final three holes for a 66.
But three birdies against two bogeys in the second round meant that he had to settle for a share of the lead.
'I didn't make many great shots today, most of them were mediocre,' admitted the world No. 11.
'I felt that some of the pin positions were a little more difficult today, but maybe it was just me and my game. But, it is a very difficult course.'
Singapore's Lam Chih Bing, who held the overnight clubhouse lead with a 67, had his second round interrupted yesterday by the 2.38pm rain-delay after he parring the first hole and driving off the second tee.
When play resumed three hours later at 5.40pm, he managed to complete only four more holes - including a birdie on the fourth and a bogey on the fifth - before darkness suspended play.
Still on a four-under total, Lam is tied for third with Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, both of whom completed their second rounds on 68.
A further stroke back and on 139, and a share of sixth spot, was Dane Bjorn and Australian Gleeson (both shot 67s).
Double major winner Padraig Harrington was still on one over after six holes of his second round, while world No. 3 Phil Mickelson was two over after seven.
The chasing pack, indeed, are in striking distance, and Dyson knows it is hardly just a race between Els and him.
'It's hard to tell who will win, really. It depends on what the weather will be like and where they stick the pins at the weekend,' said the Yorkshireman.
'Realistically, you are looking at a score of maybe around 10 or 12 under. So, if I was offered another six-under total for my next two rounds, I would take it.'
Dyson is set to make the cut, which will include the top 65 golfers plus ties.
But, with 78 still due to continue their second rounds early at 7.30 this morning, there is still a chance that he could be overtaken before the third round begins in the afternoon.
Asia, though, has been a happy hunting ground for Dyson in his career. He has four Asian Tour titles to his name and is hoping that trend will continue.
'It's the type of turf you hit off here,' said the 2000 Asian Tour Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year.
'It kind of sets the ball up nicely and you can do whatever you want with it... I really like the grass.'
The US$5 million (S$7.5 million) Barclays Singapore Open winner's cheque of US$792,500 alone would exceed his ¥70,949 (S$133,540) total winnings on the European Tour this season.
Winning the tournament would also mark his first title in over two years.
Ironically, his famous sporting family would probably hardly be excited.
His father and uncle, after all were both professional footballers - dad played for Arsenal and Middlesbrough, while his uncle Terry played for the 1961 double-winning Spurs side.
Uncle Terry's two sons were also professional cricket and tennis players, while Dyson's grandfather, Ginger, was a jockey.
