Woods struggles, Els takes the lead

Tiger Woods struggled Saturday and Ernie Els took advantage, surging into the lead of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates with a seven-under-par 65.

Els had a bogey-free round, making an eagle on the 10th and adding five birdies to move from fifth to first at 11-under 205.

That doesn’t mean Els thinks he can sit on his one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson with Woods another three strokes back going into the final round.

“Probably need a really low one tomorrow,” Els said. “I can’t see Henrik with Tiger and the other guys not shooting low, so just got to keep going tomorrow.”

Stenson, the defending champion, shot a 68.

Woods, who led after the first two rounds, missed putts, hit wayward drives, put his approach on 18 into the water and yelled at a photographer en route to a 73. He is at seven-under 209 and tied for fifth.

J.B. Holmes shot a five-under 66 in the FBR Open at Scottsdale, Ariz., in front of a record crowd of 170,802 to take a two-shot lead.

Holmes, the 2006 FBR winner, took a 14-under 199 total into today’s final round. First-round co-leader Charles Warren shot a 67, bogeying the final hole, to match Jonathan Byrd (68) at 12 under.