Tiger leads by one from Irishman McGrane

ONLY THREE SCOTS SURVIVE
HALFWAY CUT IN DUBAI
DESERT CLASSIC

Only three Scots made the halfway cut in the Dubai Desert Classic - Andrew Coltart, who seems to have been rejuvenated since he lost his European Tour card at the end of last season, Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie whose 72 was only one stroke more than playing partner Tiger Woods in the second round at the Emirates club today.
The man on the Tiger's tail going into the third round is an Irishman - not Rory McIlroy, who missed the cut by the way after following up a 69 with a 77. No it's a unsung player from the Emerald Isle, Damien McGrane who insists he is relishing the chance to pit his wits, not to mention his golfing skills, against 13-time major winner Tiger Woods over the final two rounds.
McGrane followed up his first-round 68 with a 69 in testing conditions to earn his place in Saturday's final group alongside the world No 1 who leads by one stroke on eight under par 136 after carding a 71.
"We all want to play alongside him (Woods) and see what we should be doing because he sets the mark at the moment," said McGrane.
"I have to make the most of what I have and play my own game and sink a few putts and hope the numbers add up.
"It's something that is going to be very different playing with someone of his stature, but he has his game and I have my game and I will be trying to do the best with what I have.
"I need to get some good finishes over the weekend. I tend to play three good rounds and then play one not so good, but if I keep knocking on the door my time has to come."
At one stage it looked like Woods' run of 20 straight sub-par rounds dating back five months was about to come on an abrupt halt, but he produced a gutsy finish to birdie two of the last three holes for a one-under total of 71.
Coltart also made the cut in last weekend's Qatar Masters but fell out of the top 10 in the weekend action. After a 69 and 71 for four-under-par 140, the Thornhill former Ryder Cup player has again given himself a platform for a high finish.
Gallacher shot a 73 for 143 while Montgomerie has had a pair 0f 72s for 144.
Only those with 36-hole totals of 145 or less qualified for the final two rounds.
Alastair Forsyth missed out by one shot with a 77 for 146, the same total as one-time PGA champion Scott Drummond who had scores of 72 and 74.
Ross Bain had a 73 for 147 while Paul Lawrie, who has been scoring par or thereabouts this year, suddenly fell off the par platform with a 76 for 148 to miss out by three shots.
Marc Warren scored 74 and 75 for 149, the same total as Darren Clarke.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE SECOND-DAY TOTALS