Sergio Garcia grabs three-shot lead at Dubai Desert Classic

By Ali Stafford

Sergio Garcia moved into a three-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the weather-affected Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

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Dubai Desert Classic

Garcia completed a five-under 67 on Saturday morning to move clear of nearest challenger Nacho Elvira, after strong winds at Emirates Golf Club saw Friday afternoon's play suspended

The entire second wave of players were back early to finish their rounds, in much calmer and sunny conditions than those they had faced on the first two days.

Image: Play was suspended at 2.25pm local time on Friday

Resuming on the sixth hole and one behind overnight leader George Coetzee, Garcia made a fast start by birdieing his opening three holes.

Coetzee also birdied his first hole - the 18th - to reach the turn in 33, before cancelling out a dropped shot at the second with a gain at the fifth.

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Garcia bounced back from a bogey at the 12th to pick up a shot at the next and go into a share of the lead, before going top of the leaderboard when Coetzee double-bogeyed his final hole.

Image: Garcia's last European Tour win came at the 2014 Qatar Masters

The Spaniard then extended this lead with a gain at the 16th, with compatriot Elvira his nearest challenger despite closing his five-under 67 with a final-hole bogey.

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"We got a bit lucky with the weather today," Garcia said. "I was expecting it to be windier, but you still have to hit good shots.

"There's still some things I need to improve on, but it's pretty good so far. I want to do more of the same over these last two rounds."

Henrik Stenson finished with a hat-trick of birdies to join Coetzee four strokes off the pace, with England's Chris Paisley part of the group another shot behind.

Image: Poulter missed a large chunk of the 2016 season through injury

Ian Poulter birdied five of his final six holes to join Matthew Southgate inside the top 10, while Masters champion Danny Willett only just made the cut after a two-over 74.

Watch the Omega Dubai Desert Classic throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.

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