Tiger sharp, 4 back with 66 in Dubai
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-par 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.
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 tied for fifth at 7-under 137 entering the weekend at Emirates Golf Club. He won this tournament in 2006 and 2008.
Marino surges
Steve Marino got his only bogey of the first two rounds, but followed that up with three birdies in the last four holes Friday for a 7-under 66 and a four-shot lead over D.A. Points in the Pebble Beach (Calif.) National Pro-Am.
Jay Don Blake birdied eight holes and shot 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Tom Lehman, who had seven birdies, after the first day of the Champions Tour Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla.
- AP
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