Woods back in contention

Tiger Woods hauled himself back into the hunt for the Dubai Desert Classic today and then talked about his visit to American troops on Wednesday.

The world number one birdied the last two holes of his first round for a two-under-par 70 after yet another fog delay.

Half the field were unable to finish their opening rounds last night and Woods needed to get something out of his remaining six holes after finding himself eight adrift of Welshman Bradley Dredge.

He missed a five-foot birdie chance on the short 15th, but hit his drive close to the green at the dogleg 359-yard 17th and then two-putted the 547-yard last - the hole on which he took a double bogey seven to lose by two to Thomas Bjorn three years ago.

Woods took a flight to Bahrain after his pro-am on Wednesday and then was taken by military jet to the aircraft carrier George Washington in the Gulf.

He described the trip as “one of the most awe-inspiring afternoons of my life” and before starting his second round just 30 minutes later added: “They are out there protecting us and doing great things for our country.

“They’re putting their lives on the line and that’s the least we (Mark O’Meara also went) could do, putting a smile on their faces.

“I wish we could have spent more time, but logistics meant we had to leave. Regulations are regulations.”

Colin Montgomerie also birdied the last two holes for a 70 – “level with Tiger and Ernie Els at this stage is never a bad position to be in,” he said - while Paul Casey, playing with Woods for the first time in competition, and Padraig Harrington both returned 69s.

The player to get closest to Dredge, however, was Scotland’s Scott Drummond, who resumed on four under and birdied the third and fourth to climb above Swindon’s David Howell into second place on six under, two behind.