GOLF

McIlroy stumbles in bid for European money title

Rory McIlroy’s chance for the European money title took a hit when his ball landed in the water on the 18th hole Friday at the Dubai World Championship, resulting in a bogey that dropped him five shots behind Spain’s Alvaro Quiros.

Quiros eagled the 18th for an 8-under 64 that moved him to 12 under through two rounds.

Top-ranked Luke Donald finished with three straight birdies for a 68 and was tied for 12th.

McIlroy needs to win and hope Donald finishes no better than ninth to claim the European money title. Donald is trying to become the first player to win both the European and American titles in the same year.

templeton shootout: Nick Price had a hole-in-one and teamed with fellow Champions Tour player Mark Calcavecchia for a 9-under 63 and a share of the lead with PGA champion Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele after the opening round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout at Naples, Fla.

Terry Kelly and Steve Stricker were a stroke back, and Rickie Fowler and Camilo Villegas were two shots back. The 12 two-man teams will play a better-ball round today and close with a scramble Sunday in the $3 million event.

BASKETBALL

D-LEAGUE: The Maine Red Claws claimed guard Courtney Pigram from the Available Player Pool. He is expected to join the team for today’s game in Canton, Ohio.

Pigram, a 6-foot-1 shooting guard from East Tennessee State, had been playing in China. His addition gives the Red Claws 10 players. On Thursday, they signed a former University of Vermont player, 6-8 forward Even Fjeld.

HORSE RACING

VALENZUELA RETIRES: Patrick Valenzuela, the jockey who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness aboard Sunday Silence, is retiring after a 33-year career marred by no fewer than a dozen suspensions or jockey’s license revocations because of substance abuse problems.

AUTO RACING

GIBBS HIRES GRUBB: Joe Gibbs Racing grabbed championship-winning crew chief Darian Grubb and paired him with Denny Hamlin in hopes of pushing the driver the final step toward the Sprint Cup title.

Grubb takes over for Mike Ford, the only crew chief Hamlin has had at NASCAR’s top level.

Grubb was fired by Tony Stewart, a decision made before Stewart surged to the Sprint Cup championship. Grubb was in high demand and had at least one other offer, as an engineer at management level for Hendrick Motorsports. But he said he wants to be a crew chief another four years and took the JGR job to chase another title.

COLLEGES

MEN’S SOCCER: Charlotte beat Creighton in penalty kicks at Hoover, Ala., to advance to the NCAA final for the first time.

The 49ers (17-4-3) and Bluejays (21-3) failed to score in regulation and both 10-minute overtime sessions. But Charlotte converted each of its four penalty kicks, compared to one for Creighton.

Charlotte will face either top-seeded North Carolina or UCLA in the final.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for the rest of the season because of a right knee injury. 

—From staff and news services