Tiger moves into top 10 in Dubai as McIlroy leads

Tiger Woods moved up into the top 10 on his return to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic today – as Lee Westwood moved into a tie for third.

Resuming on one under par following his closing eagle yesterday, Woods birdied the 12th, 13th and 18th to reach the turn in a three-under 34.

Westwood, meanwhile, birdied the two par fives on the back nine and on five under was only two behind overnight leader Rory McIlroy, one of the second round’s later starters.

It was not such a good start for German Martin Kaymer, the third member of the world’s top three grouped together for the final leg of the European Tour’s Middle East swing.

Kaymer, needing a top-two finish to have a chance of dethroning Westwood, also made four on the 549-yard 10th after hitting the hole with his bunker shot, but then came bogeys at the 14th and short 15th.

That sent him down to two under, but a chip to six feet from over the green at the 18th brought him back to his starting position of three under and he was joint 16th.

McIlroy, meanwhile, had been joined on seven under by South African Thomas Aiken, who birdied the 10th and 15th and had still to card a bogey after 24 holes this week.