Dyson hopes new arrival will spark upturn in his fortunes

For the Yorkshireman became a father for the first time on Monday, his wife Lyndsey giving birth to a daughter.

But such is the life of a professional golfer, what was changing nappies on Monday became changing planes on Tuesday for daddy Dyson as he left behind him family bliss for the pursuit of riches at the second world golf championship event of the season.

His elevation into the world’s top 50 last season got him into all the big events and he cannot afford to pass up the opportunity of competing against the best players in the world.

Married life has already changed his focus – for the better – but he is yet to discover how family life will affect him.

“I got married and I reached 26 in the world, so I didn’t lose that much focus,” said 34-year-old Dyson.

“Kids might be different, but look at Luke Donald, he had a child and reached world No 1.

“It affects people in different ways. I don’t know how it will affect me, but I think it will be for the better, I really do.

“I like being at home and I like my weeks off and it’ll be really relaxing when I am. Well, maybe not!

“When I got married, I began thinking ‘I’m not playing for myself now, we’re gearing up to have a family so I’d best get my head down’. And it worked.”

Dyson has slipped back to 33rd in the world after a stop-start year in which he has been unable to transform sporadic form into momentum.

How much the emotions of the past few days have taken out of him will be revealed over the four days at Doral’s Blue Monster course.

“I don’t know how I’ll do. Monday was a big day, Tuesday I was shattered and off on the flight,” he said. “There’s no cut at this event, so you’re here for four days. I’ll just focus as well as I can.

“Even Chubby (Chandler – manager) said ‘don’t expect too much, but you might surprise yourself’.

“But I had to come here, it’s the top 50 in the world, it’s always good company to be in.”

This will be Dyson’s last tournament before the Masters. He has taken the decision to pull out of the Houston Open the week before to spend more time with his new family, who will follow him on the road to some of the European Tour events closer to home in the early summer months.

“I want to see her growing up as much as I can,” said Dyson. “I don’t want to miss that.”