Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald remain tied at the top in Dubai

Rory McIlroy sank a short birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday to remain tied with Luke Donald as the world’s two top-ranked golfers pulled three shots clear of a star-studded field after the third round of the Dubai World Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

The top-ranked McIlroy, who has already wrapped up the European and PGA Tour money titles, struggled early when he bogeyed the first hole and missed several makable birdie putts. But he improved on the back nine, sinking a 30-foot eagle putt on 14 to go with three birdies for a six-under 66.

Donald also had a 66 and is tied with McIlory with a 17-under total of 199. If Donald wins Sunday without carding a bogey, he will match the feat of Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik, who won the 1995 Scandinavian Masters without dropping a shot.

ETC.

Bynum’s return from injury on hold again

Andrew Bynum’s debut with the Philadelphia 76ers is on hold again.

General Manager Tony DiLeo said Bynum is out indefinitely and there’s no timetable set for his first game. The All-Star center was acquired from the Lakers in a four-team trade before the season.

“We don’t know when he’ll be back,” DiLeo said.

Bynum had been recovering from a bone bruise on his right knee, and the 76ers were hoping he would be cleared to return to basketball activities by Dec. 10. But he injured his left knee while bowling two weeks ago and now his return has been pushed back four times since the beginning of training camp.

DiLeo said Bynum has “bilateral bone bruises and a weakened cartilage state” in his knees.

Bynum, 25, is in the final year of his contract and could sign a five-year deal worth more than $100 million in the off-season, if he’s healthy. But his uncertain status could be costing the 7-footer millions.

Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick and running back LeSean McCoy have been ruled out of the Eagles’ game against Carolina on Monday night because of concussions.

The Eagles said Vick is symptom-free, but McCoy has headaches and dizziness.

Rookies Nick Foles and Bryce Brown will start in place of Vick and McCoy. Foles will make his second career start at quarterback, and Brown his first NFL start at tailback.

The Minnesota Vikings declared wide receiver Percy Harvin out of Sunday’s game at Chicago because of his sprained left ankle.

Ricky Hatton hastily retired again Saturday night following a knockout loss at Manchester, England, to Vyacheslav Senchenko in the British star’s first fight in more than three years.

“I needed one more fight to see if I had still got it, and I haven’t,” said the 34-year-old Hatton, the former light-welterweight champion, who dropped to 45-3.

Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal won the season-opening World Cup men’s downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, Saturday, beating Austria’s Max Franz by 0.64 of a second.

Svindal finished the Olympic course in 1 minute 48.31 seconds.

American Marco Sullivan and Austria’s Klaus Kroell tied for third at 1:48.97. Sullivan started well back in the field in the 42nd position.

Completely exhausted, Lindsey Vonn collapsed to the snow soon after crossing the finish line at Aspen, Colo.

Totally elated, Tina Maze performed a cartwheel right after her first win in the United States.

Her stamina drained, Vonn simply couldn’t make up ground on the Slovenian star in a giant slalom race Saturday. Vonn finished 21st in her return after missing time with an intestinal illness.

Vonn was 10th after the first run, but didn’t have anything left in the tank for the second pass through the challenging course. The more the four-time overall champion tried to attack the hill, the more snow she sent flying in every direction and the more speed she lost.

Lewis Hamilton won the pole position for the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix. Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel will start fourth and title challenger Fernando Alonso seventh.