Former runner-up Dustin Johnson fired a 2-over 74 to grab a share of the lead at a gusty WGC-Cadillac Championship on Friday, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy kept pace with a 74.
Defending champion Tiger Woods carded a 73 in difficult conditions, and despite the over-par round jumped 28 places into a share of 25th at the $9 million (Dh33m) PGA Tour event. Woods won this title for the seventh time last year.
“I played pretty well. A 74 is about as high as it was going to go. I think I played a lot better than that,” said Johnson, who finished second in this event in 2011. “It’s really tough.”
Johnson is tied atop a crowded leaderboard after 36 holes with American compatriots Patrick Reed (75), Matt Kuchar (74) and Hunter Mahan (74) at one-under 143.
It is not quite the Ryder Cup, but McIlroy is lurking just one stroke back in another four-man group that comprises fellow Europeans Jamie Donaldson, Graeme McDowell (71) and Francesco Molinari (75).
The Europeans share fifth place as Donaldson, of Wales, tallied the low round of the day on the weather-hit Trump National Doral with a 2-under 70.
“I don’t think I have played in conditions this difficult in America,” said McDowell of the swirling winds on the Blue Monster course.
No one shot in the 60s and just three golfers broke par in the second round. The average score Friday was a 76.
Woods drained a 91-foot, seven-inch putt on the par-three fourth, giving him his longest putt since 2001. It was also the longest putt on the Tour in five years.
“We’ve all got a shot at it now,” Woods said. “No one is going anywhere.”
Zach Johnson (75) and Bubba Watson (72) share ninth place at 1-over 145, one stroke clear of Jason Dufner (77), South African Charl Schwartzel (76), Brandt Snedeker (73), Chris Kirk (71), Harris English (77) and South Korea’s Kim Hyung-Sung (74).
The first and second rounds were both completed on Friday. The first round was suspended because of darkness following a long weather delay Thursday.
Both rounds saw scores soar Friday as the wind gusted to over 32 kilometers (20 miles) per hour.
“It was a demanding day. It was really kind of touch and go, particularly on the greens. It felt like the ball could roll at any moment,” said Kuchar. “It was nasty.”
The second round alone saw over 100 golf balls land in the water.
Reed, 23, led after the first round but he tumbled out of first with consecutive bogeys at 13 and 14.
“Anytime you’re playing on the PGA Tour, especially a World Golf Championship, it’s fun and you can enjoy it,” Reed said.
“To be out here grinding, yeah it’s tough, but at the same time, it’s only going to make you tougher.”
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'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
