Sand was often in evidence on a breezy day at the Majlis Course

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
(GB & Ire unless stated):
-8 T Woods (USA)
-7 D McGrane
-6 T Levet (Fr), H Stenson (Swe)
-5 R Fisher, S Garcia (Sp), P Hedblom (Swe), S Hend (Aus), G McDowell, G Murphy, H Otto (SA) Selected others:
-4 E Els (SA), L Westwood
-3 I Poulter
level C Montgomerie

A birdie at the last gave world number one Tiger Woods a 71 and a one-shot lead at eight under at the halfway stage the Dubai Desert Classic.

Woods, who began the day two shots ahead, had a frustrating time in cold, overcast and blustery conditions.

Irishman Damien McGrane eagled the third en route to a 69 that moved him into second, while Ernie Els shot 72 for a share of 12th four back.

The cut came at one over, four strokes too many for Darren Clarke who shot 75.

Woods was resplendent in manufacturers dark glasses, but they were more to shield his eyes from the sand drifting across the course than the sunlight, which was conspicuous by its absence.

After seven birdies and no dropped shots on day one, he bogeyed the first, and when he failed to get up and down from the fringe at the par-three 15th for his third bogey, McGrane and Henne Otto had joined him in the lead at minus seven.

He then took out his anger on the remaining three tee shots, firing pin high into the rough at the 425-yard 17th but failing to make a birdie.

After a determined 69, McGrane will partner Woods on day three

After a stunning drive at the last his second finished in rough to the left of the putting surface, but an immaculate chip and run gave him a simple four at the par-five, extending his run of sub-par rounds to a remarkable 21.

"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."

McGrane, yet to win on the European Tour, started from the 10th and recorded his eagle when a 283-yard three wood finished four feet from the cup after hitting the pin.

He rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at his 16th and will now face the prospect of playing with Woods in round three.

"I'm sure it's something that is going to be very different," the 36-year-old Irishman said. "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."

Elsewhere, Garcia began with successive birdies but three bogeys saw him complete the outward nine in one over 36.

He missed several chances to improve his position before a long birdie putt at the last put him in contention for the weekend three shots back.

Els started from the 10th but matched four birdies with four birdies.

South African Otto dropped out of the lead after a double bogey at the last.

Colin Montgomerie, who had two double bogeys on day one, mixed three birdies with two bogeys in five holes from the 10th, before finishing with a second successive 72 to trail playing partner Woods by eight strokes.

But following his quadruple bogey nine at the last on Thursday, Clarke posted four successive bogeys from the 14th and failed to qualify.