AMID the threat of lightning York-born golfer Simon Dyson was poised to make an electric impact in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Play at the Sentosa Golf Club complex was suspended yesterday as the danger of lightning developed in a tropical thunderstorm.

The enforced break in play came with the world number 63 on two-under-par after ten holes of his opening round – tied for ninth and a mere three shots off the clubhouse leader, Danish Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn.

He held a one-shot advantage from England’s Simon Khan after carding six birdies and a bogey in a five-under 66.

Dyson – seeking his seventh European Tour crown in the $6 million event – started impressively with birdies on the second and fourth holes. He then followed with his trademark run of pars before the halting of play after he had negotiated ten holes.

The Singaporean weather could yet have a big part to play in whether Rory McIlroy clinches the European Tour money list title.

The world number one was restricted to just eight holes, five shots shy of Bjorn.

Last year’s tournament was cut to three rounds because of torrential rain and the shorter the event the harder it will be for McIlroy to climb from his current 38th position into the top three he needs for the Order of Merit crown.

Already the PGA Tour’s leading money-winner this season, the 23-year-old Northern Irishman is trying to achieve what was an unprecedented double until Luke Donald did it last season.