ORLANDO, Fla. – Golf had its first coronavirus scare last week when Italy’s Edoardo Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli were quarantined before the European Tour’s Oman Open.

Molinari and Gagli were eventually released and were able to play in the event, but it was a concerning moment for everyone – except Molinari’s brother, Francesco.

“I was laughing, actually. If you know my brother, of all people, for it to happen to him. I just found it a little bit funny at the beginning,” Francesco Molinari said. “Obviously, I spoke to him and he was more annoyed than scared because he was feeling well. He had no symptoms.”

Francesco Molinari added that he is concerned about how the virus is impacting his homeland.

“We just follow the directions that we're given by the Tour. So far, luckily, it doesn't seem to have an impact on us directly,” Molinari said. “In Italy, they cancelled football games, soccer games, which are huge over there and closed school, so it's definitely having an impact there. Hopefully it won't get to that stage over here.”

The PGA Tour released a statement Monday that said the circuit has no plans at the moment to alter any schedules beyond the previously announced changes and that the Tour will continue to review the “relevant positions from the Centers of Disease Control and the World Health Organization.”

Keaton Jennings has insisted that he has plenty to offer England after his recall to their squad for the Test tour to Sri Lanka, regardless of whether he can break into the side.

Jennings, picked as the back-up top-order batsman in the absence of the injured Rory Burns, won his place on the tour primarily due to his record on the subcontinent: he averages 44.44 in five Tests in Asia, and his two hundreds for England have come in Mumbai and Galle.

And while he hopes that his ability against the turning ball can put pressure on incumbent opening pair Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley, Jennings said that he hopes he can use his own experiences in the spotlight to help them through difficult times if necessary.

ALSO READ: The Keaton Jennings recall: has the era of batting specialisation arrived?

"We've got a few guys competing for top-order places but that's healthy" Jennings told PA. "It's almost like the old opening batter's union - only you know the pressure they are feeling and what they are going through.

"They [Sibley and Crawley] are two very good blokes and two guys who are working very hard at their game. Whether I get the chance or not, I'm here to help England win the series. If I play, that's awesome, if I end up mixing electrolyte drinks then I'll do that.

"You cannot underestimate the level of support everyone offers each other in that dressing room. It becomes a family-type unit. You feel your mate's hurt when he nicks off early doors - it's hard to see because you have been in that situation and you can double it when you're playing for England."

Jennings' struggles at the top of the order in seam-friendly conditions saw him come in for heavy criticism during his second spell in the Test team, with the nadir coming in England's series at home to India in 2018 when he averaged 18.11 across nine innings.

"I've had an absolute battering at times," Jennings said. "The sport section can be hard reading. But there are going to be times when you see things you don't want to see or hear things in the street… that's the life I've chosen.

"I've got to make sure I'm big and strong enough to know where my values are. I don't want to run away from my failures or my shortcomings. I have no issue being open and honest if it lets me put my head on the pillow at night.

"If a youngster reads this, sees that someone who plays for England struggles with this stuff, it might help them learn to cope. Maybe that youngster can go on and become the best player in the country."

Even before arriving in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, Jennings has had a busy winter. He travelled to Mumbai for England's spin camp at the end of 2019 before returning for a Lancashire commercial event in January, and last month captained England Lions to their first-ever victory against an Australia A side at the MCG.

"Any Australia side is up for it and always wants to compete, so to captain and to win there definitely makes me very happy," he said.

"It's something I'll look back on with a beer in front of my fireplace and be very proud of. There's potential for some of the guys to go back there in a little while and recall those experiences. You live between Ashes series, that's the way English cricket works."

New Zealand have welcomed the pace attack that took them to within a hair's breadth of a maiden World Cup triumph back into their ODI squad.

After beating India 3-0 at home, New Zealand travel to Australia this month, where they have never won an ODI series before.

And having missed that convincing series win, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry have all been declared fit for the series in Australia. Kyle Jamieson retains his spot, following an impressive display in the Test series against India, with Hamish Bennett and Scott Kuggeleijn the men to miss out.

All three seamers were injured in New Zealand's Test series defeat in Australia, but have resumed playing since. Ferguson and Henry have both played only first-class game and two 50-over fixtures since their returns, while Boult starred in the Test series win against India.

"Playing Australia in Australia is one of the great challenges in world cricket and you know you will be severely tested in all aspects of the game," said head coach Gary Stead. "Our one-day unit is a pretty settled one with plenty of experience and I think that showed in the recent series against India.

"It's great to welcome back the class of Trent, Matt and Lockie who spearheaded our run to the Cricket World Cup final last year. Kyle's made every post a winner since his international debut this season and he'll be a handy asset to have in Australia.

"It's an honour to compete for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and I know it means a lot to the players to have the trophy stay in New Zealand."

New Zealand ODI squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor

Sri Lanka have lost each of their five most-recent T20Is, but the team's improved fitness standards, and its batting confidence - both of which were on display in the ODI whitewash of West Indies - should have a knock-on effect. This is what captain Lasith Malinga hopes anyway, as he attempts to correct a woeful captaincy record since taking over in late 2018.

"When you start winning matches, the bad things in our game seem to get erased, and the good things are noticeable," Malinga said on the eve of the first T20I in Kandy. "That's the situation now, which I'm happy about. Fitness wise, a bowler should be able to bowl four or five overs. And when a bowler goes to the middle, he should be able to complete that game without getting injured. We've seen that from our players now. They bowl, and they run hard, and they dive. Angie [Mathews] bowled 10 overs for the first time in years. Those things have improved. I'm sure it will continue. These are the results of many months of hard work. The new coaches have come in and helped with that.

Almost all the batsmen in Sri Lanka's top seven made contributions during the ODI series, with Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis especially impressive, hitting one century and a fifty apiece. Thisara Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga also made good finishing contributions from lower down the order.

"If a team is to win, you need at least seven players playing somewhere near their best," Malinga said. "We saw that in the ODI series - lots of great individual performances influenced the result. For a while we didn't have batsmen who could get among the runs frequently enough, and they weren't finishing games. But now their mentality has come good. I'm hoping they'll keep playing well in the T20s."

Malinga was also pleased with the trust shown in each of Sri Lanka's players during the ODI series. Sri Lanka played all three matches with the same XI. This is rare.

"There's a new coaching style here now," Malinga said. "This is a time when players get to consistently play. Because of that consistency in selection, players have got self-confidence about their place in the team. I think over the next three to four matches we will get a team that is unafraid to take risks. That's my hope."

"The selectors and team management feel this is the best 15 T20 players in the country, so I don't think it should be a big problem to give them matches consistently."

ATHENS, Greece -- Next week's flame-lighting ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will go ahead in Greece despite concerns about the global coronavirus outbreak, organizers said Tuesday.

The Greek Olympic committee said it is working closely with national health authorities and will hold meetings to evaluate the situation every two days. The committee, known as the HOC, also said the Greek leg of the torch relay will go ahead.

Greece has recorded seven cases of the virus, all linked with people who traveled from Italy.

The Olympic flame is ceremonially lit months in advance of the Games at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics in southern Greece, among the ruined pagan temples of Ancient Olympia. From there, it is carried in a weeklong relay through Greece before being handed over to Games organizers.

The HOC said it would not allow spectators at the final rehearsal on March 11, the eve of the ceremony. It added that it would "reduce significantly" the number of accreditations.

The HOC also is canceling lunches, dinners and receptions scheduled during the lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia, and will recommend to local authorities to cut down on planned public events.

The flame will be handed over to Tokyo organizing officials on March 19.

The New York Knicks may have won on Monday night, but they will be without their biggest fan for the rest of the season.

Appearing on ESPN's First Take on Tuesday morning, Spike Lee said he won't be returning to his Madison Square Garden courtside seats this season.

"I'm coming back next year, but I'm done for the season," Lee said. "I'm done."

Lee's comments come a day after he and the Knicks had a disagreement over which entrance the award-winning director could use. A video circulated online showing Lee yelling at Garden security outside an elevator, leading some to say he was thrown out of the arena. But a Knicks spokesman said that was untrue and that it was simply an issue of Lee using the wrong entrance.

Lee and Knicks owner James Dolan could be seen shaking hands and smiling at halftime, and Lee was in his sideline seat for the second half.

Lee classified the Knicks' version of events as "spin" and said that he's being "harassed by James Dolan. I don't know why."

The 62-year-old Academy Award winner said that despite his moratorium on MSG this season he'll be back for the 2020-21 campaign.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale is having an MRI on Tuesday after experiencing soreness in his elbow following his first live batting practice session.

Manager Ron Roenicke acknowledged concern as the team awaits the results, which will be sent to Dr. James Andrews for evaluation.

Sale, 30, saw Dr. Andrews last August after the seven-time All-Star was shut down for the season with elbow inflammation. Sale had a platelet-rich plasma injection at the time but avoided surgery.

Sale threw to batters Sunday for the first time since August, doing a full pregame routine with long toss and time in the bullpen and then 15 pitches on the mound.

He last faced hitters on Aug. 13, giving up five runs with 12 strikeouts over 6⅔ innings in a win at Cleveland. He was placed on the injured list and shut down with elbow inflammation, ending his worst season at 6-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 25 starts.

The Red Sox had already said that Sale will start this season on the injured list after he reported to camp with pneumonia.

Last March, the Red Sox signed Sale to a five-year, $145 million contract extension. The new deal starts this season and runs through the 2024 season. Sale will earn $30 million per year from 2020 to 2022 and $27.5 million in '23 and '24.

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said right fielder Aaron Judge is feeling better but will have more tests to determine the cause of soreness in the right pectoral area near his shoulder.

Sources told ESPN's Buster Olney that there is a growing sense among the Yankees that Judge has turned the corner in his rehab.

Judge was shut down from hitting about a week before spring training with shoulder soreness. He experienced discomfort Friday when he took batting practice for the second straight day in an indoor cage.

"He feels it more now in the pec," Cashman said. "It's moved down toward the pec. We're just trying to figure it out and determine what's bothering him. In the meantime, I can just tell you he is feeling better in the last 48 hours."

Cashman also said Tuesday that he feels it is unrealistic to expect that slugger Giancarlo Stanton will be ready for Opening Day on March 26 at Baltimore because of a strained right calf. Stanton was hurt during defensive drills a week ago.

"With arguably what, three and half weeks to go before Opening Day, I think we'd rather be safe than sorry,'' Cashman said.

Cashman said he believes Stanton will be back in April.

Since winning the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year award, Judge has been limited to 112 games in 2018 because of a broken right wrist and to 102 games last year due to a strained left oblique.

Stanton was acquired by the Yankees from Miami before the 2018 season. The left fielder played in just 18 regular-season games last year because of a strained left biceps and a sprained right knee.

New York already was without center fielder Aaron Hicks. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Oct. 31 and is not expected back until summer.

In their absence, the Yankees' outfield may include Brett Gardner in center, flanked by Mike Tauchman and Clint Frazier.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Garrett Whitley will miss considerable time with multiple facial fractures after being struck by a foul ball in the dugout Monday, manager Kevin Cash said.

Garrett is consulting specialists to determine his rehabilitation schedule, Cash said Tuesday, but the outfielder does not have any damage to his eye.

Whitley was struck by a foul ball off the bat of Orioles infielder Renato Nunez that shot into the Rays dugout. The ball bounced off the steps of the dugout and hit Whitley square on the right side of his face.

Whitley, who never lost consciousness, went to the hospital and was released Monday night.

He tweeted thanks to those who reached out on Monday.

Thank you to everyone who reached out with well wishes today. I truly appreciate every single one of you.

— Garrett Whitley (@RealGWhit) March 3, 2020

Whitley, 22, was a first-round pick by the Rays in the 2015 draft. He spent the 2019 season with Tampa Bay's Advanced A affiliate in Charlotte, batting .226 with 10 homers in 114 games.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – One of the first things you notice when walking along pit lane at Sebring Int’l Raceway are the names of manufacturers, their nation’s flags and the corresponding year of an overall victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts.

There’s one manufacturer whose name appears the most: Porsche, which owns 20 overall victories since 1958. But those wins only paint part of the German manufacturer’s illustrious history at Sebring.

Porsche also has – far and away – the most class victories in the Twelve Hours, totaling 96, including the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans (GTLM) class the past two years. As a result, the Porsche GT Team – and even more specifically, the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR-19 squad of Frederic Makowiecki, Nick Tandy and Matt Campbell – will be going for their third consecutive victory in the grueling endurance classic on Saturday, March 21.

Tandy and Makowiecki have both been a part of the team’s success the last two years.

Makowiecki, who is piloting the new car full-time in 2020 with Porsche veteran Tandy, is looking forward to getting back to the Central Florida raceway.

“Sebring is still my favorite race in the USA because it’s like a temple,” said the Frenchman. “Nothing’s changed really in over 50 years. What we always search for is maximum speeds and best lap time, but here, it’s so hard to achieve. That’s why you put in so much energy. You have so much fun and so much pleasure, you say, ‘I want to do it again.’”

Makowiecki and Tandy will be joined by Campbell, a 25-year-old Australian that has an impressive résumé in the endurance racing world, with class wins in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Dubai in 2018 and an overall victory in last year’s Bathurst 12 Hours.

The young Aussie will make his Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring debut this year. He’ll also be making just his second-ever start with the Porsche GTLM team after finishing on the podium in the Rolex 24 At Daytona last month.

All three drivers, however, won’t have far to look for stiff competition in the GTLM class. Their sister car – the  No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR-19, driven by Laurens Vanthoor, Earl Bamber and Mathieu Jaminet – won the 2019 WeatherTech Championship GTLM title, and is hungry to take home another big trophy.

“We succeeded, although it was a close battle against our teammates in the 911, we won (the championship),” said Vanthoor, who has yet to win an IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup race in his career. “I’m jealous they won Sebring, so in the end you want everything. This year we wanted Daytona. We came in second, unfortunately, so I want to make it up to them in Sebring.”

Vanthoor and the rest of the Porsche GT drivers will be making their first start at Sebring in the new RSR-19, a car that proved itself to be competitive at Daytona. Both cars finished on the podium in the 24-hour classic.

“It’s very encouraging,” Vanthoor said. “The performance the cars showed in Daytona. From the first time I drove it, I felt comfortable in it. It’s a clear step forward in every type. It’s not like we gained a second a lap, but we’re making our life easier to perform at 100 percent on every occasion. I think this car has a very big future and potential.”

Makowiecki and the rest of the No. 911 team showed speed in the new car as well. They finished the 24-hour battle a mere four seconds behind their sister car and only 18 seconds shy of the No. 24 BMW Team RLL entry for the GTLM race win.

“In general, the main difference is we’ve been focused on our weak point and are trying to cover that,” said Makowiecki when comparing last year’s 911 RSR to this year’s 911 RSR-19. “If you want to be consistently on top, if you want to be there every weekend and make a difference in the championship, you can’t have too many weak points. That’s what the RSR-19 is important for. It’s to cover that.”