DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Rory McIlroy hit wedge into 5 feet for birdie on the 18th hole for a 2-under 70 to regain the outright lead in the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday. Custom Minnesota Twins Nike Jerseys . The chief challenge for McIlroy came from an American -- but it wasnt Tiger Woods. Brooks Koepka, who earned his European Tour card last year by winning three times on the Challenge Tour, made seven birdies against no bogeys for a 65 that left him one shot behind McIlroy going into the weekend. Woods, meanwhile, hit only four fairways and had to rely on some key putts to salvage a 73. He was in a tie for 44th, eight shots out of the lead. McIlroy was at 11-under 133. He appeared to be in control at Emirates Golf Club, leading by three shots after his birdie at No. 10. But he drove wildly into the waste area on the par-5 13th and the par-4 16th holes, both leading to bogeys, before recovering on the 18th. "It was nice to birdie the last and at least give myself a one-shot lead going into tomorrow," McIlroy said. "I will just go back tonight and sort of regroup and realize I am still leading the tournament. I was more frustrated on the back nine, as the back nine is where you want to build your score after playing the harder front nine." Danny Willett of England, who began his week by jumping out of a plane at 4,000 metres (13,000 feet), had a 65 and shared third place with Damien McGrane of Ireland (70) and Julien Quesne of France (70). Henrik Stenson, who won the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup last year, had a 67 and was four shots behind. Woods, trying to join Ernie Els as the only three-time winners of the Dubai Desert Classic, opened with a birdie on his third hole and the highlights were few after that. His only other birdie was on the par-3 11th, with a shot into 2 feet. Instead of going to the practice range after his round, he conducted a clinic with Mark OMeara. "I was on so many parts of the golf course today that I got to meet so many people, signed so many autographs out there and gave a lot of balls away," Woods joked with the crowd. "Seriously, I was just hitting it sideways." He even joked about the 79 he shot last week at Torrey Pines to miss the 54-hole cut on a course where he had won eight times previously, including a U.S. Open. "I have to tell everyone here I never made a 10-footer for not shooting 80," Woods said. As for his round on Friday, he said he putted well, but had too many putts from 40 and 50 feet, which is "not exactly the best thing." "I just didnt hit it close enough and didnt hit it well," Woods said. "I struggled with it and had a bad warm-up, as well. Just one of those days." Koepka is in his first full season on the European Tour. He came close to winning the Frys.com Open last autumn in America before struggling on the back nine. He is roommates in Florida with another American on the European Tour, Peter Uihlein, who bogeyed his last hole to miss the cut. "Winning is winning," said Koepka, who has four Challenge Tour wins. "Ive been able to do it on the Challenge Tour, so hopefully I can get it done with week." It should be more difficult with McIlroy, a two-time major champion, starting to regain his form. McIlroy ended a year without winning in December when he edged Adam Scott at the Australian Open. He finished one shot behind in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago. "Im leading the golf tournament. Ive been in this position before and Ive went on to win," McIlroy said. "Ive led from the front quite well in tournaments that I have won. I feel like I am still playing well and I know the course just as well as anyone else. Im now expecting to go out there and shoot two good scores over the weekend and hopefully lift the trophy." Willett, along with his wife and caddie, began the week with an assisted sky dive on Monday in a charity event. He feels it might have helped with his golf. "If you stand on the first tee, trying to hit a drive into the fairway seemed a little bit less nerve-racking than jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet," Willett said. "You never know, might have prepared us quite well." Custom Authentic Baseball Jerseys .com) - Pavel Datsyuk and Gustav Nyquist both scored in the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings denied the Minnesota Wilds comeback bid with a 5-4 win on Tuesday. Custom Detroit Tigers Nike Jerseys . Winning more at home probably should be on the list. The Flames look to avoid a fifth defeat in six home games by winning a sixth straight meeting with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-chicago-white-sox-nike-jerseys . Torres tells Spanish daily AS "in football you never know where you will be inside one month. Im going to work hard, thats all you can do with this last part of the season so important.Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham have massive potential for the future despite seeing his sides Premier League title chances ruined by a 2-2 draw at Chelsea. Spurs, who needed victory at Stamford Bridge to stay in the title race, raced to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, but Chelsea hit back through Gary Cahill and substitute Eden Hazard to secure a draw and hand Leicester an historic title.After the game, Pochettino, whose side has qualified for next seasons Champions League, could not hide his disappointment but said he was proud of his players efforts this season. First of all, congratulations to Leicester, to Claudio Ranieri, the players, the staff and of course the supporters, Pochettino told Sky Sports. They had a great season and they deserve the title. Mauricio Pochettino could not hide his disappointment after his sides 2-2 draw with Chelsea Its true we are disappointed because we had the opportunity to play for the title but in the same way we have to be realistic and congratulate our playersI think we have massive potential for the future and this is the first step. We need to be stronger next season and try to be in the race for the title.Spurs now face a fight to secure a second-place finish with Arsenal just three points behind with two games remaining. Dejected Spurs players rreact after conceding the second goal against Chelsea They host Southampton next Sunday before a trip to relegation-threatened Newcastle on the final day of the season, and Pochettino wants his side to remain focused. Custom St. Louis Cardinals Nike Jerseys. The season was fantastic and well still fight for second place, the Spurs boss added.The gap is three points to Arsenal and we need to keep this gap.We need to be ready for next Sunday.In a feisty encounter, Tottenham had nine players booked, while Pochettino had to split up Danny Rose and Willian before Mousa Dembele appeared to eye gouge Diego Costa. Pochettino thinks Spurs still have massive potential despite missing out on the Premier League title Much was made of Chelsea wanting to end Tottenhams title chances, but the Spurs boss thought Guus Hiddinks sides attitude showed a lot of respect for his side.He said: We fought to win the title and Chelsea fought to try and win the game, but it makes us very proud to see how Chelsea took this game.They showed big respect to us and this is the way we want to carry on next season. We wanted to show we are strong and it was a good lesson for us.We are the youngest squad in the Premier League and at the moment they are sad, but this is the feeling we need to feel for the future. Also See: Chelsea end Spurs dream Chelsea 2-2 Spurs - As it happened Carra on Dembele eye gauge Leicester win Premier League ' ' '