Woods rallies to reclaim Dubai lead
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 Dubai Desert Classic | Round Two | 02 Feb 2008
Tiger Woods was forced to fight for his 36 hole lead at the Dubai Desert Classic but on what was particularly trying day for all, he emerged as a one shot leader after a second round of one under par 71 has him one ahead of surprise package Damien McGrane.
Strong winds buffeted the Emirates Golf club throughout the day, blowing in sand from the desert, covering much of the course and leaving many players spending as much time protecting their eyes as much as they were their scores.
Playing in the afternoon in round two, Woods took bogey at the first hole in round two and his two shot lead had disappeared completely but by the 9th he had fought his way back to turn in 34 and was in charge again. He dropped shots at the 12th and 15th losing the lead again before he birdied the 17th and the 18th to regain the lead heading into the weekend.
For McGrane, tomorrow holds special significance as he gets to play with the world number one for the first time. The 36-year-old has yet to win on the European Tour but he has comfortably held his card each season over the past four years. His third placed finishes at the 2007 French Open and the 2006 KLM Open stand out like beacons in his career but tomorrow might just provide the highlight in terms of what he can tell his grandchildren in the years ahead.
The defending champion Henrik Stenson, at six under and two behind, probably looms as Woods’ biggest threat over the weekend. Stenson has been runner up in his last two appearances in events in the Middle East and as a previous winner of this event he could well challenge Tiger over the closing stages of the event.
Other pre-tournament favourites Lee Westwood and Ernie Els are not yet out of it as, at 4 under, they trail by only four.
The leading Australian continues to be Scott Hend who added a second round of 72 to his opening 67, recovering from a shaky bogey, bogey, start to finish in 5th place at 5 under and just three behind Woods.
Peter O’Malley is in 20th position, Brendan Jones 30th, Richard Green recovered with a round of 70 to easily make the cut in 36th place while Marcus Fraser made it five for five for the Australians with a 36 hole total of even par. New Zealander Michael Campbell unfortunately missed the cut.
