DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tiger Woods managed it all — the wind blowing, the sand swirling and the photographers clicking.

He shot a 1-under-par 71 yesterday, making birdies on two of the last three holes for a one-stroke lead halfway through the Dubai Desert Classic. Woods was at 8-under 136, and a victory will give him seven wins in eight starts. He also won in Dubai in 2006.

"It was not a pretty day out there," he said.

Damien McGrane, who is ranked 319th and has never won as a pro, shot a 69 and was a stroke behind. He will be paired with Woods in the third round today at Emirates Golf Club.

"I know he's Irish but that's about it," Woods said.

Gusts reaching 30 mph shook the bunkers and desert terrain. Sand flew in faces and created a haze masking many of the glitzy skyscrapers usually seen towering over the course. Woods wore sunglasses but said he was still "chewing sand all day."

McGrane now must contend with the large crowds that follow Woods from hole to hole.

"There's a lot of distractions here," Woods told him. "I know there's a policy with cameras, but that's not really happening out here."

Course marshals repeatedly had to ask the galleries watching Woods and his two partners — Colin Montgomerie and Niclas Fasth — to stand still and put their cameras away.

FBR OPEN

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — J.B. Holmes never feels more comfortable on the PGA Tour than when he tees it up at the crowded, rowdy FBR Open.

Holmes, the tournament winner as a rookie two years ago, shot a 6-under 65 to share the lead with Doug LaBelle II at 9-under 133 among players who finished the second round yesterday. LaBelle shot a 64.

A 90-minute frost delay to start the day left 45 golfers on the course when play was halted because of darkness.

One of them, Camilo Villegas, was tied for the lead at 9 under through 12 holes.

WOMEN'S AUSTRALIAN OPEN

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian amateur Kristie Smith shot a 4-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead over South Korea's Shin Ji-yai in the Women's Australian Open.

Smith, 19, had a 5-under 141 total on the Kingston Heath course. Shin shot a 71. Defending champion Karrie Webb (72) was 2 under along with Lindsey Wright (72) and Park Hee-young (73).