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Tiger trails leader McIlroy by four shots after firing a 66 in round two of Dubai Classic
Tiger Woods, who is at 7-under 137 after 36 holes, hits from the rough during the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
AP PHOTO
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Strong off the tee and hitting his shots with exquisite control, Tiger Woods seemed like his old self.
He turned in the day’s best score with a bogey-free 6-under 66 Friday to surge into contention at the Dubai Desert Classic. The round put him four strokes behind leader Rory McIlroy and gave him every reason to believe he can win for the first time in more than a year.
Woods was part of a powerhouse group that included top-ranked Lee Westwood and second-ranked Martin Kaymer. But on this day, Woods played as if he were unquestionably No. 1 again.
“It felt good today. I hit a lot of good shots,” said Woods, who likened his game to the way he played at last year’s Chevron World Challenge, where he lost in a playoff to U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
Woods, who has been outdriving his playing partners, added accuracy to his blistering drives and approach shots. And unlike Thursday, when he missed makable putts and hit approach shots wide of the green, the winner of 14 majors routinely gave himself chances.
He finished with six birdies and was at 7-under 137 entering the weekend at Emirates Golf Club. He won this tournament in 2006 and 2008.
“I felt like I drove it pretty good,” he said. “I feel good. We worked out a few of the things last night that I didn’t like.”
McIlroy followed his opening 65 with a 68. This course brings out the best in the 21-year-old golfer from Northern Ireland, who earned his only European Tour victory at this tournament two years ago.
A shot behind at 10 under were Sergio Garcia (67) and South Africa’s Thomas Aiken (67), followed by England’s Steve Webster (68) at 8 under.
“I’m just concentrating on myself,” McIlroy said. “I don’t mind who plays well over the weekend or who shoots what score. As long as I go out and shoot the numbers that I want to, then that’s the most important thing.”
Woods was tied for fifth with Jean-Baptiste Gonnet of France, Anders Hansen of Denmark, Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland and Brett Rumford of Australia. Westwood (70) was at 5-under 139 and Kaymer (71) at 4 under.
McIlroy has struggled since winning the Quail Hollow Championship last year. He says he’s approaching his game with more patience, and it seems to be paying dividends — he finished second in last month’s Abu Dhabi Championship.
McIlroy bogeyed the par-4 second hole but had five birdies over his last 12 holes, including the 18th for the second straight day.
“I thought after the start that I had, I really hung in there and stayed patient and just sort of picked up my birdies when I could,” McIlroy said. “I think I was 5 under from 7 onwards. So, really pleased with the round.”
Westwood had four birdies but bogeyed two of his last four holes, missing two makable putts. Kaymer never seemed to get going. His three birdies in the first six holes were undercut by two bogeys.
“I didn’t give myself enough chances,” Westwood said. “It was just a plod round really, a bit of a boring day.”