Feb 3, 2007 4 min read

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Eight years ago, Ross Fisher was fetching balls for Tiger Woods on the practice range. Now, the Englishman holds a five-shot lead over the defending champion entering the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic. Fisher shot a second straight 7-under-par 65 Friday and was at 14 under halfway through the tournament. Woods struggled with his putting again and finished with a 67 to stand at 9 under.

“It was kind of weird,” Woods said. “I just didn’t feel like I made many putts today. I was all around the hole and most of them were actually misreads.”

Three-time Desert Classic winner Ernie Els climbed within two strokes of the lead with an eagle on the 13th hole. The second round was cut short because of darkness at Emirates Golf Club after a rare Dubai thunderstorm delayed play for more than two hours. Fisher held a four-stroke clubhouse lead over Peter Hanson and Graeme McDowell.

“I’m hitting the ball probably as good as I’ve ever hit it,” said Fisher, who had eight birdies and a bogey. “It would be tough to have a third 65, but you know it’s out there if you play well.”

The Desert Classic is just the second tournament in which Fisher has been the leader – the first was the 2005 China Open.

The 26-year-old Englishman described how he’d spent his early years in awe of Woods. He said the closest contact he had with him was when he worked as a teenager on a driving range at the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in England.

“I’ve never met him or spoke to him,” he said.

Now Fisher faces the possibility of playing alongside Woods on Sunday if they are the top two heading into the final round.

“It would be an absolute thrill to play with the best player in the world,” Fisher said. “Obviously, all the pressure is going to be on him because he’s expected to win. No one’s going to be thinking, ‘I think Ross can take this guy on.’ I’ll try not to watch him too closely because at the end of the day, I’m going to try and beat the guy.”

Woods had five birdies and no bogeys. On the 13th, Woods fell to his knees and bashed the ground with his club in frustration after a chip for an eagle dribbled a few inches from the hole. He settled for a birdie.

“I’ve got to go practice first of all and get organized and be ready for tomorrow,” Woods said. “It’s just a matter of going out there and making a bunch of birdies. The golf course is pretty benign.”

Playing the back nine first, Woods dueled all day with partner Miguel Angel Jimenez. The Spaniard was at 11 under for a few holes before he bogeyed the 15th and ninth and finished with a 68. He was tied with Woods at 9 under.

Woods enjoyed bantering with the ponytailed Jimenez.

“He’s so funny,” Woods said. “Some of the one-liners he comes up with out there are pretty good.”

By day’s end, Els was at 12 under after 14 holes, with McDowell and Hanson in the clubhouse at 10 under. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was also at 10 under with four holes left. Stenson, Els and 34 others are to complete the second round Saturday morning.

Els said the rain had slowed the greens and left him slipping in the mud. But the South African made the green on the par-5, 13th hole in two shots, then holed a 12-foot putt for an eagle.

“I’ve got to keep my foot on the pedal,” Els said. “There’s so many guys involved. I’ve just got to keep up the pace.”

FBR Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Former Arizona State star Jeff Quinney shot an 8-under 63 to take a three-shot lead before darkness suspended play in the FBR Open.

Quinney, a PGA Tour rookie after five years on the Nationwide Tour, was at 13-under 129 after a dominating second round under bright sunshine on the TPC Scottsdale. The 2000 U.S. Amateur champion had nine birdies and one bogey on the 7,216-yard layout.

Billy Mayfair and Bart Bryant were three shots back at 10-under 132 after 66s. Among the 18 players on the course when play was suspended was Charles Howell III, who was 9 under with two holes left. The start of play was delayed 40 minutes by frost.

Women’s Australian Open

SYDNEY, Australia – Australian star Karrie Webb shot a 1-under 71 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Women’s Australian Open.

Webb, the 2000 and 2002 winner, had a 6-under 138 total on the Royal Sydney course. Taiwan’s Wei Yun-jye (71) was second, and Australia’s Nikki Campbell (73) was another stroke back at 4 under.