Dubai-based Henrik Stenson leapt to the top of the Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard today after carding a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to edge ahead of the equally impressive Richard Green.

Green, like Stenson a former Dubai champion, hit a flawless nine-under 63 to sit a shot behind the Swede at 10 under par with world number two Sergio Garcia lurking two strokes further back following a 66 from the Spaniard.

After fog again delayed the start of play on the second day at Emirates Golf Club over half the field have yet to complete their second rounds, with 24 unable to start at all with just under six hours of play lost in total following a similar delay yesterday.

“It was a grinding day,” said Qatar Masters runner-up Stenson, who earlier completed a first-round 68.

“But when I hit bad shots I recovered well and made some good birdies on the good shots so it was a very well-scored round.”

First-round leader Rory McIlroy managed to take to the course but dropped back to seven under alongside India’s Jeev Milkha Singh after shipping one shot over his three holes before bad light stopped play.

Asian number one Singh signed for a four-under 68, with in-form South African Louis Oosthuizen, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Frenchman Gregory Havret a shot further back after playing a handful of second-round holes.

Tournament officials will hope for a prompt start tomorrow morning which should allow the third-round leaders to complete nine holes before returning on Sunday morning ahead of their final rounds.

But should fog again delay the start, officials will have to decide whether to extend the tournament until Monday or opt to cut the event to 54 holes depending on the length of any delay. Tweet