Eight straight birdies boost McGinley hopes

Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley had a magical eight successive birdies today to join Bradley Dredge as leader of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Eight in a row is the European Tour record for one round, but McGinley’s run was equally divided across two as the tournament tried to make up for lost time after another fog delay.

The Dubliner picked up shots at the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th for an opening 68, then teed off again only 30 minutes later and birdied the first four holes of the back nine.

That took him to eight under and alongside Dredge, who completed his 64 yesterday afternoon and had to wait 24 hours to resume, but McGinley then bogeyed the 434-yard 14th.

Strangely, one of the players who holds the record – England’s John Bickerton - did it over two days. In the 1995 Portuguese Open he had four in succession before play was called off, then the next morning doubled his haul.

After his bogey McGinley was second on his own, one ahead of France’s Raphael Jacquelin, while world number one Tiger Woods was back in the hunt after finishing his first-round 70 with two birdies and then picking up further shots at the long 10th – the hole he took seven on yesterday – and 13th.

Between the rounds Woods just had time to talk about his visit to American troops on Wednesday.

Woods took his private plane to Bahrain after his pro-am 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 this morning 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.

Scotland’s Scott Drummond held second spot at six under for a while, but after five holes he was back to three under.

Els was another late starter and with 100 minutes lost at the start of play it was doubtful whether he and Dredge would complete their second rounds before nightfall.