Ireland's Graeme McDowell has dropped off the pace slightly at the Dubai Desert Classic despite carding a three-under-par second round at the Emirates Golf Club.

McDowell shot a 65 yesterday thanks to an eagle and five birdies and led overnignt alongside England's Ross Fisher.

The Portrush man played the first five to par today before bogeying the sixth. The 27-year-old then carded four birdies to finish with a 69.

Unfortunately for him Fisher kept up the electric pace he set yesterday and carded another 65, only slipping up on the sixth, as he had in the first round.

Peter Hanson also shot a 65 to join McDowell in second on 10-under-par.

Behind them is Tiger Woods and Miguel Angel Jimenez on nine-under after a 68 and 67 respectively.

The world number one yesterday insisted he needed to improve on his first-round score of 68 - and he did just that on his outward nine, making five birdies without dropping a shot.

Darren Clarke is on six-under after improving on a slow start. The Ryder Cup star made par on his first seven holes before making a birdie on the par-five 18th, his ninth.

He then added two more birdies coming home before dropping a shot on the par-four sixth.

Ernie Els, who teed off in the afternoon, made a superb start as he shot three birdies in his first five holes and was nine-under.