DUBAI - World number three Retief Goosen celebrated his birthday on Friday with an eagle at the final hole to reach the halfway stage of the Dubai Desert Classic in a tie for the lead with Denmark's Anders Hansen.
The South African carded a second round 67 after his 64
on Thursday for a 13-under aggregate of 131. Hansen shot a best-of-the-day 63 at the Emirates Golf Club.
World number one Tiger Woods moved into a group two shots off the pace after an erratic six-under 66, which included eight birdies and an eagle. He was tied for third with Nick Dougherty of England (66) and Australia's Richard Green (69).
Goosen had a sleepless night on Thursday after one of his children was involved in a car accident in London.
"I didn't sleep much after my wife called last night and told me about the accident. But both my child and the nanny are doing fine. Everyone is breathing and that is a relief," said the two-time US Open champion.
"I got off to a slow start. The swing is not feeling right and I am hitting the ball left, but it was okay on the back nine," said the 37-year-old, who rolled in a 20-foot putt at the last for his eagle. He also struck four birdies.
Woods, playing the back nine first, exploded out of the blocks with an eagle and four birdies in his first seven holes.
He looked set to challenge Ernie Els's course record 61 until a double bogey at the fourth - where his tee-shot found water - and another dropped shot at the sixth halted his momentum.
"You just cannot give away shots like that. I turned a great round into just another round. It was very frustrating," said Woods.
"But there are two rounds remaining and I am going to work on a few things at the range now," he said.
Hansen owed a debt of gratitude to his putter after recording the lowest round of the tournament.
"I hit the ball great yesterday, but the putts dropped today. It would have been good to finish at 10-under with a birdie on the 18th."
Defending champion Els of South Africa stayed in the hunt with a 66 that gave him a tie for sixth place on 10-under.
- REUTERS
Golf: Goosen, Hansen share two-shot lead over Tiger
DUBAI - World number three Retief Goosen celebrated his birthday on Friday with an eagle at the final hole to reach the halfway stage of the Dubai Desert Classic in a tie for the lead with Denmark's Anders Hansen.
The South African carded a second round 67 after his 64
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