Dubai -- Lee Westwood closed with two birdies in his final three holes Friday and has a 2-stroke lead halfway through the European PGA Tour's Dubai World Championship.
Westwood shot 3-under-par 69 Friday and is at 9-under 135 after two rounds.
Six golfers, including first-round leader Robert Allenby, are tied for second at 7-under and another four golfers are at 6-under.
The group tied for second is made up of Allenby, Padraig Harrington, Ross McGowan, Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen and Camilo Villegas. McGowan's 6-under 66 was the round of the day Friday at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in the United Arab Emirates.
