Woods two strokes clear

DUBAI — An imperious Tiger Woods, who won the Buick Invitational in California by eight shots on Sunday, charged into a two-stroke lead in the Dubai Desert Classic first round on Thursday.

The world number one made his intentions clear from the start when he chipped up to an inch from the cup at the 10th hole, his first, for a birdie four that paved the way for a seven-under 65 at the Emirates Golf Club.

"I am definitely playing better than last week," Woods said. "I have had two good days of practice here and started to hit the ball a lot better.

"I made a lot of putts last week. I didn’t particularly drive it very well and my iron game was just alright but on those bumpy greens (at Torrey Pines) for some reason I made a bunch of putts."

Sharing second place on 67 on a hot, sunny day were Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, Swede Pelle Edberg and Frenchman Thomas Levet.

The 44-year-old Jimenez used a six-iron to record a hole-in-one at the 186-yard seventh.

The former Ryder Cup player, who also started on the 10th, was four under for his last five holes after adding to his ace with birdies at the fifth and ninth.