SIMON DYSON’S winning feeling was put into cruel contrast after the first round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio.

Fresh off his stunning display to win the Irish Open at Killarney last week, the York golf star jetted to America in the best of spirits – and hoping to stabilise his position in the top 50 of the world rankings with a good performance at Akron.

But an opening round 77, seven over par, has put him firmly on the back foot going into the second round and he lay joint last in the field with Open champion Darren Clarke.

With no midway cut, Dyson still has three days to put things right, but he’ll be hoping for a better start than he experienced on Thursday night.

Starting on the back nine, he bogeyed his first hole – the tenth – on the way to an outward 39 which included dropped shots at the 13th, 14th and 17th. Things got little better coming home.

A double bogey six at the third was followed by another dropped shot at the fourth. Although Dyson then birdied the sixth, he gave that shot straight back at the 7th as he closed in 38.