The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Ernie Els took a chance on the 18th hole, and it cost him sole possession of the lead midway through the Dubai Desert Classic.

Els' second shot on the par-5, 547-yard hole found water short of the green. He finished with a bogey and a 4-under 68 in Friday's second round that left him in a four-way tie for the lead.

"I took a bit of a chance on the 18th, and it didn't work out," Els said. "The only bad shot I hit on the back nine was on the 18th, and I didn't quite get the 4-iron. But I hit the ball really nicely, almost better than yesterday. But it didn't quite go my way scoring-wise."

Els, the defending champion and winner of four of the five events he's played this season, had five birdies to move to 10-under 134. Mikko Ilonen (67), David Lynn (66) and first-round leader Alastair Forsyth (69) shared the lead.

Els' bogey was his first of the tournament.

"If I had pulled it off, I would have been 3 up. I had gone 35 holes without a bogey, and I played as good as I could."

Thomas Bjorn, who beat Tiger Woods to win this event in 2001, fired a 66 and moved within a shot of the lead at 9-under 135. Ian Woosnam was also at 9 under after a 66 that included an eagle at No. 13.

Woods withdrew from the tournament earlier this week, citing concerns about safety in the region. Former champion Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo also pulled out.

BRITISH OPEN: The course at this summer's British Open at Royal St. George will be lengthened, a decision made with Tiger Woods and other long hitters in mind.

The course for the July 17-20 tournament will be 246 yards longer than it was 10 years ago, when the event was last played in Sandwich. The changes, made last year and early this year, bring the yardage to 7,106 yards.

The par for the course has also been increased from 70 to 71, with the 497-yard No. 4 hole changed from a par-4 to a par-5.

New tees have been built at eight holes: Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The green at No. 14 has been moved back 43 yards.

"It's going to be a bit like the 2000 Open at St. Andrews," said Rhodri Price of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. "When Tiger won there, he barely took his driver out. It was a case of him taking irons off the tees to avoid bunkers. It's going to be a big test for all the golfers to avoid bunkers this year.

"To an extent, the changes reflect that players with modern equipment are hitting the ball further than they were 10 years ago when the Open was last there."

Greg Norman won the 1993 British Open at Royal St. George.

DORAL: Most people see the switch to a belly putter as an act of desperation. Bob Tway prefers to call it maturity. "Maybe I'm getting older and maybe not quite as stubborn," Tway said.

The change seems to be paying off. Tway birdied three of his last five holes for a 4-under 68, giving him a one-stroke lead over Jim Furyk in the Ford Championship.

Tway, who always considered himself a good putter while winning a PGA Championship and six other PGA Tour events, switched to the belly putter last month and is starting to get more comfortable.

He was at 11-under 133 on the Blue Monster, which was tame despite temperatures that approached 90 and turned Doral into a sauna.

Furyk also closed strong with three straight birdies and a 6-foot par save on the 18th for a 6-under 66, putting him at 134.

The 36-hole lead is a rare position for Tway, who hasn't won in nearly eight years.

He had a chance last year at Memorial, leading by one stroke going into the final round until he bogeyed the first two holes, shot 73 and finished three behind.

"I didn't play good on Sunday a lot last year, or I would have had a much better year," Tway said. "I think what happens is you haven't been in the hunt as often and you would like to win, so you go out and try way too hard."

The belly putter, first made popular by Paul Azinger in 1999, has a long handle that sticks into the stomach as an anchor. Tway doesn't think they should be allowed, but he's not about to lodge a protest.

"People are playing well with them, so you might as well try it," he said.

The weekend won't include a Nicklaus. Jack Nicklaus took a double bogey on No. 4 and shot another 73 to miss the cut by three shots. Gary Nicklaus had a 76 and finished one stroke behind his father.

Also gone is David Duval, who has made the cut in only one of four stroke-play events this year.

MASTERCARD CLASSIC: Allen Doyle shot a 7-under 65 for a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Champions Tour event in Mexico City. Doyle had an eagle and six birdies on the 7,111-yard, par-72 Bosque Real Country Club course.

"All in all, I had a very good day today," said Doyle, whose best finish so far this season was a sixth at the Royal Caribbean Classic. "I am pleased. The leader is under great pressure. You get everyone trying to catch you."

Defending champion Bruce Lietzke finished with seven birdies and two bogeys in a round of 67, and was tied for second with Eamonn Darcy at 5-under 67.

Bruce Fleisher, who won the Verizon Classic for his 16th senior title two weeks ago, shot a 68 and was in a four-way tie for fourth place with Seiji Ebihara, Isao Aoki and Jerry McGee.

Weekend golf on TV

Ford Championship at Doral: 3-6 p.m. today-Sunday; NBC (Ch. 5, 22).

Dubai Desert Classic: 9 a.m.-noon; 8-10:30 p.m. today-Sunday; TGC.

MasterCard Classic: 6-8 p.m. today-Sunday; CNBC.

Clearwater Classic: 1:30-4 p.m.; 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m. today-Sunday; TGC.