The South African currently lies second in the money list behind New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, the man who took his US Open title at Pinehurst in June.

But with a first prize this week of £340,000 (€503,556) Goosen could move into top spot with only a few weeks of the season remaining.

“I’d love to win the Order of Merit, not too many players have won it three times,” said Goosen, who won it in 2001 and 2002 and finished second behind Ernie Els last year.

“The next few weeks are very important with the World Match Play at Wentworth and the American Express Championship in San Francisco. If you can do well in one of those events and maybe win one it will be tough for the others to catch up.”

Goosen had threatened to break clear of a crowded leaderboard when he birdied three holes in a row from the 11th – having started on the 10th – but three bogeys in four holes around the turn halted his charge.

“It could have been a really low round,” said Goosen, third, 11th, fifth and sixth in the four majors this season.

“I got off to a flying start but I’m not hitting the ball as well as I’d like.

“I’m trying a couple of things to get it right for the next few weeks and I’m driving it a bit sideways. With the rough here you can struggle to get to the green.”

Lynn carded a second-round 67 and admitted he was surprised to be sharing the lead after missing the cut in Switzerland last week with rounds of 75 and 72.

“Last week was a bad one and when I practiced at home on Monday the swing didn’t feel good,” said the 31-year-old from Stoke.

“I didn’t come here in good spirits but I went out in the first round and started to get some good feelings and if I can carry on the same way I’m optimistic about the weekend.”

Scotland’s Scott Drummond and tournament host Bernhard Langer were one shot off the lead on eight under par, with France’s Thomas Levet a stroke further back after a stunning inward half of 29 in his 66.

Australia's Marcus Fraser had been right in contention on seven under par before running up a bizarre 11 on the 18th, which included four penalty shots.

While taking a penalty drop after hitting his third shot into water surrounding the green, Fraser’s caddie incorrectly picked up the ball as it rolled back towards the water before it had crossed the line marking the hazard.

That meant a two-shot penalty and, not realising this had happened, Fraser then dropped the ball for a second time when he should have placed it where it had been stopped initially.

Another two-shot penalty for playing the ball from the wrong place meant a triple-bogey seven became an 11, and from two off the lead on the 18th tee, Fraser was back to level par and missing the halfway cut.