Dubai Classic: Lucky escape for McNulty

Mark McNulty stayed in contention for the Dubai Desert Classic today after surviving the threat of a two-stroke penalty.

The 47-year-old Zimbabwean, already the winner of the South African Open this season, was among 42 players who had to complete their first rounds this morning following yesterday’s two-hour fog delay.

He finished with a six-under-par 66 to be in joint third place, only two behind Tiger Woods and Thomas Bjorn, but then spoke to officials about an incident at the 10th hole on the opening day of the £1million tournament.

Having driven under a tree, McNulty’s club got stuck in branches as he went to play his second shot to the par five.

A few leaves fell as a result and what tournament director Mike Stewart and chief referee John Paramor had to decide was whether McNulty had improved his intended line of swing as a result.

While they were still deliberating McNulty was already teeing off for his second round on the same hole and he was able to breathe a sigh of relief when they told him there was no penalty.

‘‘It’s a difficult one because it’s really a matter of opinion,’’ said Stewart.

‘‘You can only use the evidence there and there were so many other branches around that we decided that removing a few leaves hadn’t changed the shot he had to play.’’

McNulty promptly parred the hole to remain six under, where he found himself in a group of seven players including last year’s European number one Lee Westwood and Welshman Phillip Price.

Playing together, they had three holes to complete this morning, and while Westwood birdied the 16th and 18th for his 66, Price matched it with two closing birdies.

Dubliner Padraig Harrington was also on six under, but was among today’s later starters, as were Woods and Bjorn.

Cambridge’s Russell Claydon started his second round on five under and quickly birdied the long third to join Westwood and company.

Of all the players in the field, nobody is keener to do well this week than the burly Claydon, who lost his tour card last season by finishing 125th on the Order of Merit and then failed to win it back at the qualifying school.

Now a member of the tour’s Board of Directors, Claydon is playing in the event only thanks to a sponsor’s invitation last month and his opening 67 contained an eagle two on the 475-yard sixth, where he sank a 185-yard six-iron.

‘‘I was chuffed to bits when I was given the chance to play here,’’ he said. ‘‘At the end of last year I put my clubs away for 10 weeks because I needed to clear my head.

‘‘I’m in the next two tournaments as well, but after that I just don’t know. I’ve written off letters and am waiting to hear.’’

Winning on Sunday would not only earn Claydon £166,660, but also give him a tour card again for the next two seasons.