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Tiger Woods races into two-shot lead in Dubai Desert Classic

31/01/2008

Tiger Woods is two shots ahead of the field after carding a seven-under-par round on the opening day of the Dubai Desert Classic.

The world number one made seven birdies to lead an 11-strong chasing pack on five-under.

Woods, who romped to victory in the Buick Invitational last week, is on-track to recording his fourth consecutive victory ahead of the Dubai World Championship.

"I played pretty well and hit a bunch of good shots out there, much better than last week when I just made a lot of putts," Woods said afterwards.

"I couldn't have asked for a better start.''

Of the 11 players on five-under-par, France's Thomas Levet and Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez appear best-placed to challenge Woods' dominance.

Big-hitters Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els and David Howell are a shot behind on four-under.

And Ian Poulter, who in the build-up to the Emirates Golf Club contest had promoted himself as Woods' greatest threat, was further adrift on two-under-par.

Poulter was quoted in Golf World as saying he did not rate anyone else as a realistic challenger to the 31-year-old American, but he has since insisted he was "misquoted".