Dubai based Henrik Stenson leapt to the top of the Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard after carding a bogey free seven under par 65 to edge ahead of the equally impressive Richard Green.

Green, like Stenson a former Dubai champion, blazed a flawless nine under 63 to sit a shot behind the Swede at ten under par with World Number Two and Race to Dubai leader Sergio Garcia lurking two strokes further back following a 66 from the Spaniard.

After fog again delayed the start of play on the second day at Emirates Golf Club over half the field have yet to complete their second rounds, with 24 unable to start at all with just under six hours of play lost in total following a similar delay on day one.

"It was a grinding day,” said Qatar Masters runner-up Stenson, who earlier completed a first round 68.

“But when I hit bad shots I recovered well and made some good birdies on the good shots so it was a very well scored round.”

First round leader Rory McIlroy managed to take to the course but dropped back to seven under alongside India’s Jeev Milka Singh after shipping one shot over his three holes before bad light stopped play.

Asian Tour Number One Singh signed for a four under 68, with in-form South African Louis Oosthuizen, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Frenchman Grégory Havret a shot further back after playing a handful of second round holes.

Tournament officials will hope for a prompt start in the morning which should allow the third round leaders to complete nine holes before returning on Sunday morning ahead of their final rounds.