Garcia in pole as McIlroy makes poor start in Dubai

A shocking start by Rory McIlroy and a poor one by Tiger Woods allowed Sergio Garcia to take over at the top in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic today.

In much more windy conditions overnight leader McIlroy bogeyed the first three holes and slumped from one ahead to three behind.

Bad though his opening two fives were, the 21-year-old Northern Ireland’s six at the long third was a nightmare. Left in two, he left his first chip short of the green, went to the far fringe with his next and then missed from 10 feet.

Garcia had dropped his first shot of the tournament on the first green, but came back with birdies at the third and fifth to move 11 under par and two ahead of South African Thomas Aiken.

The Spaniard is seeking his first win since November 2008 and in that time slumped from second in the world to his current 79th and took time out to try to discover his zest for the game.

Woods, of course, last tasted victory almost 15 months ago, but after moving into contention with a superb second round 66 – the best of the day – he matched McIlroy by kicking off again with back-to-back bogeys.

At least he responded with a four on the 568-yard downwind third, but at six under after seven holes he had slipped from fifth to ninth and had five shots to make up on Garcia.