TIGER WOODS handed the field at the Dubai Desert Classic a glimmer of hope after dropping a shot in the opening stages of his second round in testing conditions as India's Shiv Kapur surged to the top of the leaderboard.
Following a flawless opening round seven-under-par 65, talk had already shifted to the size of Woods' victory margin but, after shipping a bogey five at his opening hole, the world No.1's bid for a second Dubai title and an eighth victory in nine ou
tings temporarily looked less of a certainty.
Gusting winds of around 25 miles per hour had covered the Emirates Golf Club course in sand, with conditions expected to worsen.
While Woods, the 2006 champion, dropped a shot at the first after pulling his tee shot and over-hitting his chipped third to drop to six under, Kapur stormed out of the blocks with an eagle at the 568-yard third, which was quickly followed by a birdie a hole later.
The 25-year-old, who has yet to taste victory on the European Tour, moved onto seven under through four holes, with Woods joined on six under by defending champion Henrik Stenson, Ireland's Damien McGrane, world No.12 Sergio Garcia and Hong Kong Open champion Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Dubai-based Swede Stenson was in the clubhouse after signing for a second round 70, while Garcia reeled off back-to-back birdies to begin his second-round challenge. McGrane also picked up two shots over his first four holes, while Spaniard Jimenez, fresh from his hole-in-one yesterday, recovered from an opening bogey to card successive birdies.
Stenson made a storming start despite the weather with a birdie at his first hole, but he slipped back to one over after three-putting his second and third holes.
But after reaching the turn in 37 after picking up a birdie at the 18th, his ninth, Stenson picked up a further two strokes on the way home and was pleased with his efforts, which were helped by a strong short game.
"It was really cold and windy this morning, I felt over the last few holes the wind dropped a little, but it's still pretty tricky out there," said Stenson.
"In gusty conditions you are always going to miss a couple of greens."
Graeme McDowell (72), Australia's Scott Hend (72), Sweden's Peter Hedblom (70) and Ross Fisher (70) were a further shot back at four under, a stroke clear of world No.5 Ernie Els (72), Lee Westwood (71) and Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer (73).
The full article contains 439 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
