Golf: A battle for the spotlight

It takes a lot to overshadow Tiger Woods when he is reprising an act once so familiar in sport and slicing through the field with a sizzling 66. But Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia threatened to do just that as the Desert Classic reached halfway. What cheek they both showed to even try to steal the spotlight after Woods, the world No3, had put his playing partners, the world No1 and 2, in their place. But when McIlroy is in this form he can turn anybody's eye. Garcia? When it comes to coming back from a personal crisis even Woods must call the Spaniard's resurgence heart-warming.

McIlroy, leading the way on 11-under after two rounds, was one ahead of Garcia and four clear of Woods. His 68 yesterday might not have looked as good as his first-round 65, but to McIlroy they were incomparable.

"This was much the more satisfying," he said, reflecting on how his new attitude allowed him to "dig in and not let it be a 72 or 73". "Maybe this time last year I would not have been able to do that."

McIlroy has gone in for something of a reinvention during the close season. The last straw came at the Chevron World Challenge in December. "If I had just played smart and made some good decisions I would have won that thing easy," said the 21-year-old, with just one win since his maiden title here two years ago.

Basically the tactic is for this most natural of golfing swashbucklers to play conservatively when the hole, conditions and tournament requires it. A perfect example of this was the 18th in the second round, when he declined to take the pin on at the front of the par-five and laid up in front of the lake. He birdied, while most who inevitably found themselves on the back of the putting surface took three to get down.

That happened to Garcia. But he was not about to moan. Not where he's been. This is just his third tournament after a three-month absence. Eighteen months ago he was ranked No2, but after a split with his girlfriend, Greg Norman's daughter, Morgan, his life and career fell apart. He started the year as world No80, but is already on the rise. A top-10 placing at Qatar last week was encouraging; this week has been rousing.

He is the only player yet to take a bogey, two 67s putting him in a tie for second with South Africa's Thomas Aiken. His presence sets up a fascinating finish.

Any other year Woods's 66 would have meant one thing. He would chase down McIlroy, preferably treading all over Garcia in the process, and produce the killer blows.

Post-ridicule, we're not so sure. After all, he hasn't won a title for 15 months. No doubt his blemish-free, six-under round did proclaim a fallen icon scrambling back up the pedestal - but we have been here before all too recently.

But Woods has every right to feel confident. After a scrappy opening 71 he was near faultless in the second round. It was good enough to put him two ahead of Lee Westwood, world No 1, and three clear of Martin Kaymer, No 2. Two personal battles won. So many more lie ahead.

- INDEPENDENT