Dubai Classic: Rain stops play in Desert Classic

The start of the Dubai Desert Classic was delayed by fog for two hours today.

Among the players kept waiting for conditions to improve were world number one Tiger Woods, seven-time European number one Colin Montgomerie and Ulsterman Darren Clarke.

Montgomerie, winner of the title on the same Emirates course in 1996, and Clarke were paired with Dubliner Padraig Harrington, while Woods was in the match ahead with Dane Thomas Bjorn and Swede Pierre Fulke.

Lee Westwood, who took over from Montgomerie as Order of Merit winner last season, was among the afternoon starters unlikely to finish their rounds before nightfall because of the hold-up.