Tway has not won a PGA Tour title for almost eight years

Bob Tway birdied three of the last five holes for a four-under par 68 to give him a one stroke lead over Jim Furyk after the second round.

Tway, seeking his first title in nearly eight years, has taken only 52 putts for the first two rounds, a performance he put down to the belly putter he has been using for the past month.

"This is my fourth week with the belly putter," he said.

"I'm going to try to stick with it a few weeks and see how it is. This week I have rolled the ball very nicely.

"People are playing well with them, so you might as well try it."

SECOND ROUND SCORES -11 Bob Tway -10 Jim Furyk -9 Carlos Franco (Par), Rod Pampling (Aus) -8 Scott Hoch

Tway's most impressive putt of the day saw him save par on the 18th by holing from 12 feet after laying up short of the green from the rough.

Furyk also finished strongly with three straight birdies and a six-foot par save on the 18th for a six-under 66.

Carlos Franco (68) and first-round leader Rod Pampling (71) were another stroke back.

There were 21 players within five shots of the lead, including Mike Weir of Canada, who leads the PGA Tour money list and already has won twice.

However, there was bad news for Britain's Colin Montgomerie who missed the cut after shooting a two-over-par 74 to follow his 72 in the first round.

He was joined on the sidelines by David Duval, who bogeyed his final four holes and shot an 80, his highest score in 159 PGA Tour events over seven years.

Britain will be represented in the final stages of the tournament by Nick Faldo, three under after two rounds, and Luke Donald who is one under.

Dubai Desert Classic

Els bogeyed the 18th for a 68

Defending champion Ernie Els and Scotland's Alastair Forsyth shared in a four-way lead after the second round.

The Open champion and the former European Tour Rookie of the Year were at 10-under-par alongside England's David Lynn and Finn Mikko Ilonen at the Emirates Golf Club.

Els squandered a chance for the sole halfway lead after taking a bogey at the last for a 68, which included five birdies.

"I hit the ball very nicely today, almost better than yesterday, and on the 18th hole, I took a chance but it did not work out and I shot my shot in the water," said Els.

"If I had pulled it off I would have been three-up. I had gone 35 holes without a bogey and I played as good as I could."

One shot adrift of the leading quartet was Dane Thomas Bjorn (66) and former Masters champion Ian Woosnam (66).

The Welshman's round included a birdie at the 18th after his hooked approach bounced off a hospitality tent beside the green.

SECOND ROUND SCORES -10 Alastair Forsyth (Sco), Ernie Els (Rsa), Mikko Ilonen (Fin), David Lynn (Eng) -9 Thomas Bjorn (Den), Ian Woosnam (Wal) -8 Ian Garbutt (Eng), Sven Struver (Ger), Greg Owen (Eng), Nick Dougherty (Eng),

But Woosnam admitted he was not enjoying his golf, saying modern technology has ruined the game.

"I don't like the game anymore. It's just not enjoyable - it's just hit and blast at the moment," he said.

"There doesn't seem to be any finesse any more. You have to change the ball back to softer covers to make it go different shapes and make those shots again.

Ulster's Darren Clarke fired a three-under 69 to be five behind the overnight leaders.

Meanwhile, 35 players have so far withdrawn from next week's event in Qatar over the threat of war in nearby Iraq.

But European Tour executive director Ken Schofield insisted "all preparations including golf course, accommodation and transportation are complete and secure".

Among those who have pulled out are Faldo, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Paul Lawrie, Seve Ballesteros and defending champion Adam Scott.