Tiger Woods did not have things all his own way at the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday but he maintained his overnight lead despite some testing weather conditions.
Following five carefree rounds to kick off his season, the World No 1 was made to struggle as a cold front surged through the emirate, blasting sand over the Majlis Course and sending temperatures plunging to unseasonal lows.
At one stage it looked like his run of 20 straight sub-par rounds, dating back five months, was about to come on an abrupt halt. But he produced a gutsy finish to birdie two of the last three holes for a one-under total of 71.
Woods moves to eight under par for the tournament, one clear of 36-year-old Irishman, Damien McGrane who used his experience of playing in the wind to card a battling 69.
Defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden remains in touch in third place a further stroke back after coming in early in the day with a 70. Frenchman Thomas Levet pulled level with him thanks to a late 71.
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Seven players were a further stroke back on five-under including Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
“I feel fine, pleased with anything in the red today,” Woods said.
“It was not a pretty day out there. We had a myriad of distractions out there and you had to be committed to what you’re doing.
“You can make a great swing, do everything right and get a gust and look like an idiot. That’s just the way it is.”
The weather was in stark contrast to Thursday’s placid, blue skies and warm sunshine when over 50 players finished their first rounds under par on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club. Instead, just matching par became a tough assignment.
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Woods started the second round two strokes clear of the field after a commanding seven-under par 65 on Thursday and was looking for a repeat of his second round performance in his season-opener at the Buick Invitational in California last week.
On that occasion he shot a 65 to move from two strokes off the lead to four ahead at the halfway stage. He went on to win by a comfortable seven strokes - his fourth straight win dating back to the tail-end of last year.
Several players made a run at Woods’ lead in the afternoon after he opened with a bogey and at one stage both McGrane and South African Hennie Otto were ahead of the American by a stroke until he pulled ahead again at the finish.
Otto fell away with a double-bogey at the last, but McGrane held firm to set up a dream pairing with Woods on Saturday.
“I’m sure it’s something that is going to be very different,” the Irishman said.
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“It’s an experience I haven’t had before playing with a player of his stature. I suppose there’s nobody bigger in the game that’s for sure.
“But he has his game and I have my game and I try to do the best with what I have.”
After two rounds (Great Britain & Ireland unless stated)
8 under par - Tiger Woods (USA)
7 under par - Damien McGrane
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6 under par - Thomas Levet (Fra), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
5 under par - Ross Fisher, Sergio Garcia (Spa), Peter Hedblom (Swe), Scott Hend (Aus), Graeme McDowell, Gary Murphy, Hennie Otto (Rsa)
4 under par - Andrew Coltart, Ernie Els (Rsa), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Soren Hansen (Den), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Lee Westwood
3 under par - Paul Broadhurst