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Tiger Leads By 1 Shot At Windy Dubai

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The Associated Press

Published: February 2, 2008

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Tiger Woods managed it all - the wind blowing, the sand swirling and the photographers clicking.

Woods shot a 1-under 71 Friday, birdieing two of the last three holes for a one-stroke lead halfway through the Dubai Desert Classic. Woods, the 2006 winner, was at 8-under 136 in his bid to win for the seventh time in eight starts.

Ireland's Damien McGrane (69) was second. Defending champion Henrik Stenson (70) and Thomas Levet (71) were two strokes behind Woods.

Gusts reaching 30 mph shook the bunkers and desert terrain. Sand flew in faces and created a haze masking many of the glitzy skyscrapers usually seen towering over the course. Woods wore sunglasses, but said he was still "chewing sand all day."

PGA: J.B. Holmes never feels more comfortable on the PGA Tour than when he tees it up at the crowded, rowdy FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Holmes, the tournament winner as a rookie two years ago, shot a 6-under 65 to share the lead with Doug LaBelle II at 9-under 133 among players who finished the second round Friday. LaBelle shot a 64.

A 90-minute frost delay to start the day left 45 golfers on the course when play was halted because of darkness.

Former Gator Camilo Villegas was tied for the lead at 9 under through 12 holes.

Two-time champion Phil Mickelson had four birdies, but three-putted from 7 feet for a double bogey on the par-4, 464-yard ninth hole. He came back to sink a short birdie putt on the par-5 13th and chip in for birdie on the par-4 14th. Mickelson was 5 under, four shots off the lead, through 14 holes.

BLIND CLEARWATER MAN ACES HOLE: Hitting a hole-in-one is hard enough. Now consider that Leo Fiyalko is 92 years old and blind.

"I was just trying to put the ball on the green," he said.

Fiyalko, who has macular degeneration and has been golfing for 60 years, scored the ace with a 5-iron on the 110-yard fifth hole at Cove Cay Country Club in Clearwater on Jan. 10.

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