Dubai: Tiger Woods battled gusting desert winds, poor visibility and low temperatures to hang onto a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday.
The extreme weather conditions that punished ill-attired Tiger trackers at the Emirates Golf Club also appeared to trouble the world No 1, forcing him to drop three shots in a roller-coaster round of one-under 71.
At one point on the back nine Woods' impeccable record in Dubai, where he has never been under-par in 16 rounds, appeared to be under serious threat. But birdies on the 16th and 18th put him back in sole possession of the top spot on the leaderboard.
"It was not a pretty day out there, so I'm pretty pleased," Woods told journalists on the fringe of the 18th hole.
"I had a hard time staying steady (on the greens), like the rest of the guys. They aren't exactly the easiest greens to read. There's a little bit of grain in there and you have to be committed, hit a good stroke and hopefully it goes in. But I didn't make a lot of putts today."
Woods will have an unlikely partner in today's third round after Ireland's Damien McGrane, a former club professional, fired a 69 to book his place alongside the world No 1.
There is some real quality lurking behind Woods and McGrane with defending champion Henrik Stenson and Frenchman Thomas Levet one stroke further back, while seven players, including Spain's Sergio Garcia and promising English youngster Ross Fisher.
Three-time Desert Classic champion Ernie Els, Abu Dhabi winner Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood are a further stroke back on four-under.
McGrane began the day three shots behind Woods, but played an excellent round, highlighted by an eagle on the par-five third hole to bridge the gap.
Describing the feat the 33-year-old Irishman said: "I hit a very good second shot and I almost surprised myself, pitched on the green, hit the flag and finished four feet from the hole and made the putt for an eagle."
McGrane said he was looking forward to playing alongside Woods, who has previously never met in his life, but admitted to having dinner in the same restaurant as him two nights ago.
"I think everybody here would like to play with Tiger," he said.
In stark contrast to the perfect conditions during Thursday's opening round, where players revelled in low scores under blue skies, it was always going to be a big battle to control the trajectory of the ball.
Woods extolled the virtues of patience in such testing conditions, and offered some free advice as well. "You've got to be patient. You've got to step up there and be committed to what you're doing and obviously you've got to work the ball different ways," he said.
The cut was made a one-over 145 and claimed the scalps of Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Nick Dougherty and Ignacio Garrido among others.
