Dubai: Only half the field managed to finish the second round, and the leadership underwent a minor change as winds gusting up to 27 miles an hour halted play, but the big news at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic was the withdrawal of Tiger Woods.
Woods did not come to the course and instead his manager, Mark Steinberg came over to break the news of his withdrawal due to back spasms.
With conditions unplayable, Anirban Lahiri, S.S.P. Chawrasia and amateur Rayhan Thomas played just three holes each with varying results. Chawrasia picked up a shot with a birdie, while Lahiri fell one behind by bogeying the first and Dubai-based India’s no. 1 amateur Thomas had three pars to have a share of fifth place.
He was alongside world stars like Martin Kaymer (71-69), Rafa Cabrera-Bello (71-69), Henrik Stenson (68 and even through five in second round) and Graeme McDowell (68 and even through six holes). South African George Coetzee (nine-under) moved ahead of Sergio Garcia, who had two birdies against one bogey in his five holes.
