Woods struggles in third round

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 7-under 65.

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 (score) tomorrow,” Els said. “I can’t see Henrik with Tiger and the other guys not shooting low, so just got to keep going tomorrow.”

Woods, who led after the first two rounds, missed putts, hit wayward drives and yelled at a photographer en route to a 73. He is at 7-under 209 and tied for fifth with five others.

“I didn’t play well today,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit the ball close enough on the greens, and consequently I was ‘lag putting’ a lot. Never really gave myself a lot of looks at birdies.”

Els had a bogey-free round, nailing an eagle on the 10th and adding five birdies to rise from fifth to first at 11-under 205. The South African has won the Dubai three times, in 1994, 2002 and 2005.

PGA

J.B. Holmes shot a 5-under 66 to build a two-shot lead through three rounds of the FBR Open in front of a record 170,802 partying fans at the rowdiest stop on the PGA Tour in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Holmes, who won the FBR as a rookie in 2006 but is winless since, took a 14-under 199 total into today’s final round with just over $1 million at stake for the winner.

Charles Warren, co-leader after the first round, shot a 67, bogeying the final hole, to match Jonathan Byrd at 12 under. Byrd had a 68.