HUMBLE, Texas – Lanto Griffin had a lot of people to thank after winning the Houston Open on Sunday.

No one deserved it more than Steve Prater, the former head pro at Blacksburg Country Club who not only served as Griffin's first instructor but also a second father after Griffin's dad, Michael, died when Griffin was 12 years old.

"I wouldn't be here without him," Griffin said Sunday, tears flowing down his cheeks. "I mean, he opened every door in golf that I ever had, teaching me for free, giving me a membership. He's had my back my entire journey. ... He deserves a lot more credit than he gets."

Griffin, 31, earned his way back to the PGA Tour this fall – he failed to keep his card during his rookie year two seasons ago – and had finished T-18 or better in four starts before breaking through for his first Tour victory Sunday at Golf Club of Houston. The win ended nearly a decade of struggles, particularly financially, as Griffin once had less than $200 in his bank account before winning on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2017.

Prater was there through it all, and last month Griffin attempted to pay back Prater for his years of support.

"I put Steve on payroll for the first time in 17 years to start this PGA Tour season, and he deserved every penny that I'm going to pay him," Griffin said. "I can't wait to write that check for him."

Manchester United are prepared to back manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the January transfer window but are warning that they will not overpay for players just to save the season, sources have told ESPN FC.

The Glazers and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward accept that Solskjaer's squad has been left short in midfield and up front after the summer departures of Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera.

- When does the transfer window reopen?
- All major completed transfer deals

United are willing to bolster key positions in January but have made it clear to clubs and intermediaries that they will not be held to ransom over fees and wages after a disappointing start to the campaign. Solskjaer's team has slipped to 12th in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's crucial clash with Liverpool.

Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic, 33, remains an option to provide competition for Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood up front but has been told he will need to drop his wage demands to secure a move.

Midfielder Ivan Rakitic is available from Barcelona, but sources have told ESPN FC that a move to United is unlikely because of family reasons.

Deals for long-term targets such as Leicester playmaker James Maddison, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson and Lyon's Moussa Dembele will also be explored, but there is an acceptance that most of the next round of recruiting will have to wait until next summer.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer is sweating on the fitness of Paul Pogba ahead of Sunday's game. The French midfielder has been wearing a cast on his right foot after failing to recover from an injury picked up during the 1-1 draw with Southampton in August.

He has spent time at the Transform Altitude Performance Center in Dubai but is expected back at Carrington this week to be assessed by United's medical staff ahead of Liverpool's visit to Old Trafford.

United are set to have Daniel James available to face Liverpool after the winger denied he was knocked out during Wales' 1-1 draw with Croatia on Sunday. The 21-year-old lay motionless after a clash with Domagoj Vida but afterwards insisted he was "fine."

And Anthony Martial will be in contention to face the Premier League leaders if he can prove his fitness. The 23-year-old is set to return to training after missing eight games with a thigh injury.

Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil forward Neymar will be out of action for four weeks because of a thigh injury, the Ligue 1 leaders announced on Monday.

"Neymar underwent an MRI [scan] this afternoon... a medical check up will be done in eight days but his return to competition is expected in four weeks depending on the evolution [of the injury]," PSG said in a statement.

The striker is set to miss PSG's two Champions League games against Club Brugge next week and on Nov. 6. He'd already missed PSG's first two UCL games due to a suspension incurred last season.

Neymar picked up the injury during Brazil's 1-1 draw against Nigeria in a friendly game in Singapore on Sunday.

National team coach Tite on Sunday defended his use of Neymar in the Nigeria friendly in which the former Barca man limped off after 12 minutes with an injury.

The latest medical setback for Neymar is the third he has suffered while on national team duty in the last year, and comes as he was gaining his club form with PSG.

When asked about Neymar's injury after the match in Singapore on Sunday, Tite said his No. 10 was "not at all" an injury risk.

"It would be irresponsible and incompetent of me [to play him if he was a doubt]," Tite said. "I would have to receive the complaints of the coach and the president of PSG if that happened."

Neymar, who made his 101st appearance for the national team, touched the back of his left thigh as he left the pitch and was replaced by Philippe Coutinho.

A team spokesman said Neymar "felt discomfort," while Globoesporte.com cited the Brazilian team doctor as saying the player didn't feel much pain.

Neymar was at the centre of an acriminous transfer saga with PSG and former club Barcelona this summer, which led to tensions with the player, the French champions' front office, and their supporters.

He has scored four times in five league matches as PSG entered the international break atop the Ligue 1 table.

The draw extended Brazil's winless run to four games. Since lifting the Copa America in July, Brazil have also drawn with Colombia and Senegal and lost to Peru.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Germany internationals Ilkay Gundogan and Emre Can have been backed by the German FA after controversially liking a post on Cenk Tosun's Instagram account.

Tosun posted a photo showing him and other Turkey internationals saluting fans in support of the Turkish army's offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces after the Euro 2020 qualifying win against Albania.

Tosun wrote on Instagram: "For our nation, especially for the ones who are risking their lives for our nation."

Several civilians and fighters have been killed in ongoing military actions and several European states, including Germany, have blocked sales to Turkey.

The Turkish Football Federation also posted an image on their Instagram showing players and staff saluting in the dressing room.

Although reports said UEFA will probe the incidents, European football's governing body told ESPN FC it could "not confirm" that because they had not yet received the match official's report from Friday's game.

Meanwhile, the salute and its digital imprint has led to more controversy in the Germany camp, just over a year after Mesut Ozil quit the national team after a heated debate over a picture showing the Arsenal star, Gundogan and Tosun with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

At the weekend, Tosun's post was liked by Germany internationals Gundogan and Can -- an action they quickly amended.

However, that was enough to stir up another debate over Germany national team players with Turkish backgrounds.

"I took the like back when I saw that it was judged to be political," Gundogan said in a statement published in parts by kicker. "Trust me: The last thing I wanted to do is make a political statement after what happened last year."

"What is true is that I was pleased for my former Germany U21 teammate that he scored the winning goal," Gundogan added.

Following the 3-0 win, he doubled down on his explanation and told reporters he had no "political intention" when liking Tosun's post.

Earlier, Can had told Bild that he unintentionally liked the post while scrolling through his timeline, and added he is against any war.

Both players were backed by Germany coach Joachim Low, who said postmatch that the likes were "in no case a political statement."

He added: "If you know those players, you'll know that they are against war and terror."

Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff added: "Many players on this world liked that post. And you can't allege that all of them are in favour of war and terror."

Bundesliga 2 club FC St. Pauli, meanwhile, have released Turkish midfielder Cenk Sahin with immediate effect following an internal review.

On Friday, the 25-year-old former Turkey Under-21 international voiced sympathies with the Turkish army's military action in an Instagram story.

The club said they made their decision based on the player's "repeated disregard for the club values" but also to "protect the player."

They added: "Without any discussion and without any doubt we oppose acts of war. Those and solidarity for them fundamentally contradict the values of the club."

An extra US$2.6 million will be up for grabs at women's tournaments after the ICC announced a major boost in the prize money pool.

Winners of the Women's T20 World Cup in Australia next year will receive US$1 million and the runners-up US$500,000, five times the amounts on offer at the 2018 edition. The overall prize money will increase by 320% for 2020, compared to 2018, meaning a windfall for each of the 10 teams competing.

The prize pot for the Women's World Cup in 2021 will rise to US$3.5 million from $2 million in 2017 under changes announced by the ICC on Monday in the wake of increased revenue. The ICC Board also confirmed the introduction of an Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup, to be played in Bangladesh in 2021 and staged every two years after that.

ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said the moves were part of a "commitment to reach parity across men's and women's cricket as part of a broader plan to grow and develop the women's game".

"We want to build a long-term sustainable foundation for women's cricket and that is about more than just prize money," he said in an ICC release. "It is about building a product that fans want to watch, that kids want to take up, that sponsors and broadcasters want to be part of.

"Creating a Women's U19 event also improves the pathway available to young cricketers and ensures they have the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

"Next year it's our ambition to fill the MCG on International Women's Day for the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 which would be a world record for a women's sporting event. This significant increase in prize money and the introduction of a Women's U19 event is part of a much larger effort to grow the women's game around the world."

The Board decided that the eight-year cycle starting in 2023 will comprise eight men's events, eight women's events, four men's Under-19 events and four women's Under-19 events. The ICC will call for expressions of interest from all member nations wanting to host events, with the bidding process to start early next year for women's and Under-19 events.

Meanwhile, Indra Nooyi was unanimously reappointed as the ICC's independent director for a second two-year term from 2020-22. Former PepsiCo chairperson and CEO Nooyi became the ICC Board's first independent female director in 2018. She sits on the board of directors at Amazon and Schlumberger.

Gareth Batty will embark on a 24th season of first-class cricket next year, after agreeing a one-year extension to his contract at Surrey that will keep him at the club at least until the eve of his 43rd birthday.

Batty, who turned 42 on Sunday, claimed 48 wickets in all formats in 2019, including 26 at 26.07 in eight County Championship fixtures, the second-most of any England-qualified spinner, behind Jack Leach.

His season included a remarkable display against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in May, where his ten wickets in the match included a hat-trick as he finished with a career-best 8 for 64 in the second innings.

After beginning his career at Yorkshire in 1997, Batty played for Surrey for four seasons before moving to Worcestershire in 2002, then returned to The Oval in 2010.

In 2016, at the age of 39, he was unexpectedly recalled by England for the Test series in Bangladesh and India, where he made his first Test appearances for more than 11 years.

Batty will be joined once again in Surrey's ranks by his fellow old boy, Rikki Clarke, 38, who has also extended his stay by another year. Coincidentally, the pair made their England Test debuts in the same fixture 16 years ago, against Bangladesh at Dhaka in October 2003.

Despite Surrey's disappointing season, Clarke enjoyed another prolific campaign with the ball, claiming 43 wickets at 23.97, including a best of 7 for 74 against Hampshire at The Oval.

Gus Atkinson, a 21-year-old seamer who has yet to make his first-team debut, also signed a one-year extension for the club.

Concerns are growing that the Bangladesh women's team, due to tour Pakistan for 11 days starting October 23, may not visit after all. The tour, which comprises two T20Is and three ODIs, all in Lahore, was believed to be a near certainty to go ahead as far as both boards were concerned, but is still awaiting clearance from the Bangladesh government.

The clearance was thought to be a formality despite the fact touring teams to Pakistan have, since 2009, needed extensive security guarantees from the PCB. Sri Lanka concluded a tour of Pakistan earlier this week that saw them play three ODIs in Karachi and three T20Is in Lahore, and although several leading players pulled out citing security concerns, the series itself went off without a hitch.

The status of the women's tour could also have an impact on the men's team, pencilled in to tour Pakistan in January. BCB's cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan told reporters they would "only get the full details once the security team goes to Pakistan. As you all know, the BCB president mentioned how security is the top priority on tours after the New Zealand incident [when a terrorist killed 50 people inside two mosques in Christchurch]".

Khan would not be drawn on whether the women's tour getting the go-ahead would de facto be a green light for the men's series, too. "Security is definitely a concern but at the same time, we have to think about the development of women's cricket. But I have said it repeatedly that only when we get the government's green signal, will we go forward."

Ten days out from the women's team's scheduled arrival and with no confirmation, the PCB is understandably concerned. Aside from the logistical and financial hurdles delays would represent to the board, given the significant security effort that needs to go into assuring visiting teams are safe, the PCB is eager to begin a process of normalisation for international cricket in Pakistan. There was talk of Ireland visiting in the near future, and the PCB announced the entirety of the PSL would take place in Pakistan in 2020, in addition to a potential Test series against Sri Lanka.

Even if the Bangladesh women's tour was to proceed, the three Indian members of the support staff will not be travelling to Pakistan. Head coach Anju Jain, assistant coach Devika Palshikar, and trainer Kavita Pandey will be absent, the BCB saying they wanted to avoid visa-related difficulties because of the strained political ties between India and Pakistan. A number of Indian nationals involved in the TV production of the recently concluded Sri Lanka series were granted visas however.

Earlier this year, Karachi hosted West Indies women for three T20Is. The Bangladesh women's team last toured Pakistan in 2015, while the men's side hasn't visited since 2008.

Cricket's global governing body is headed towards a confrontation with the game's biggest powerhouse after the ICC decided to include an extra tournament in the next rights cycle overlooking objections from the BCCI.

On Monday the ICC Board gave consent to include an extra global tournament in the next events rights cycle, which starts after the 2023 World Cup. As it stands, the ICC's decision, made at its meeting in Dubai over the weekend, means that its next eight-year cycle running from 2023 to 2031 would have one ICC global (men's and women's) event every year: two 50-over World Cups, four T20 World Cups and two editions of this extra event, which is understood to be in the 50-overs format.

It could, according to some officials familiar with discussions at the ICC's meetings, be a six-team 50-over tournament, along the lines of a smaller Champions Trophy.

However, the BCCI has already raised several concerns about the addition and Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president-elect, made it clear in his first media interaction after filing his nomination that he wanted to revisit the matter of BCCI's share of the ICC's revenues. He said India should get what it "deserves", considering nearly 70% of the global cricket revenues come from India.

The ICC board's move came a day after the BCCI expressed reservations over signing off on a decision before its new administration was in place (scheduled on October 23), as well as over how another global event would eat into cricket's bilateral calendar.

ESPNcricinfo has seen an e-mail sent on Sunday by Rahul Johri, the BCCI's chief executive officer, to his ICC counterpart Manu Sawhney, in which he warns of the threat an extra global tournament poses to the bilateral calendar. Johri wrote that if the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the next cycle (2023-31) was finalised without due deliberation, it would not only be "premature" but have "wide ranging repercussions" on bilateral cricket.

Incidentally, Amitabh Choudhary, the BCCI's acting secretary was present at the ICC Board meeting, and echoed the sentiment expressed by Johri. However, the rest of the Board members said that the ICC decided to go ahead with the proposal to save time. It is understood that the move received widespread support.

"The Board decided that the eight-year cycle commencing in 2023 will comprise eight Men's events, eight Women's events, four Men's U19 events and four Women's U19 events," the ICC said in a release on Monday.

"In examining a whole range of options, the Board felt a major Men's and Women's event each year will bring consistency to our calendar whilst complementing bilateral cricket, giving our sport a strong future foundation," Shashank Manohar, the ICC chairman, said. "It will provide clear structure and context to enable the growth of the sport and greater engagement opportunities for all of our stakeholders."

The ICC decision reinstates the global calendar as it was before the Big Three forced changes from 2015. Until that year, there had been an ICC event - or one scheduled - every single year since 1999, other than 2001. There was no ICC event in 2008, but Pakistan was scheduled to host the Champions Trophy that year, eventually held in South Africa the following year and in 2005 there was the ICC Super Series in Australia. In the eight-year cycle from 2015, however, two years have no ICC events: 2018 and 2022, and it is these kinds of gaps that the ICC want to avoid in the next cycle.

But the BCCI is reluctant to play ball. "At the outset, we would like to inform you that BCCI cannot agree or confirm to the post-2023 ICC events calendar and the proposed additional ICC events, at this stage," Johri wrote in his email to Sawhney. "The BCCI stands committed to bilateral cricket and would have continuing time requirement as in the current FTP. It is important for BCCI to fulfil all its bilateral commitments to fellow full members.

"The working group discussions are currently in progress and no recommendations have been made yet. Considering that, finalising the 2023 ICC events calendar will not only be premature but also mean that the correct procedure has not been followed. Increasing ICC events will have wide-ranging repercussions on bilateral cricket and therefore all aspects need to be discussed and analysed threadbare."

It is understood that the matter first came up for discussions at the ICC's working group meeting as well as at the chief executives' committee (CEC) meetings held over the weekend in Dubai. The working group, which comprises two ICC board members (Cricket South Africa president Chris Nenzani and Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings) along with CEOs of BCCI (Johri), ECB (Tom Harrison) and Cricket West Indies (Johnny Grave), was formed last year to formulate strategy for the growth and development of cricket. On Saturday, Sawhney briefed the bigger CEC meeting.

Johri is believed to have argued that the ICC ought to prioritise bilateral cricket before pushing for more global tournaments in the calendar. Sawhney's - and the ICC board's - view is that having an additional 50-over tournament every four years will help all members draw extra revenue from the rights the ICC sells for the events.

The BCCI's position is unsurprising given that its bilateral calendar still holds considerable value, something which is not the case for all members. Less financially secure boards would stand to benefit on the one hand from the increased revenues an extra ICC event will provide. On the other, they would have to balance that against the value their bilateral cricket and, increasingly, their own domestic T20 leagues bring - in calendars as packed with international and domestic T20 cricket, squeezing in one extra ICC event could hit a T20 league in some member country.

Johri did point out to Sawhney that the BCCI would not be able to sign on anything considering a new administration was on the verge of being formed with the upcoming BCCI elections. Johri wrote that the new BCCI set-up would need to be involved before any final decision was taken. "The BCCI elections are presently underway, and it will only be prudent for the new board members to deliberate and provide their inputs on this issue before any final decision is taken."

The BCCI is believed to have suggested that the ICC should organise workshops to flesh out the details with all the boards. "It is imperative that the working group discussions are completed, and a report/ recommendation are submitted for the ICC CEC to consider," Johri said in the e-mail.

With additional inputs from Osman Samiuddin and George Dobell

Controversially sacked after winning the 2016 T20 World Cup with West Indies, Phil Simmons will make a return as head coach of the team. His appointment was confirmed for a four-year spell by the Cricket West Indies board of directors on Monday. CWI also announced three new selection panels, for the men's, women's and girls', and the boys' teams.

The former West Indies opening batsman last served as the coach of Afghanistan until the recent World Cup, and on Sunday won the 2019 CPL coaching the Barbados Tridents. Before that, Simmons coached Ireland between 2007 and 2015, helping them qualify for three straight World Cups.

"Bringing Phil Simmons back is not just righting a past wrong, but I am confident that CWI has chosen the right man for the job at the right time," CWI president Ricky Skerritt said. "I want to also thank the very talented Floyd Reifer for the hard work he put in while he was the interim coach."

Reifer was one of three men shortlisted two weeks ago for the role alongside Simmons and Desmond Haynes. West Indies had been without a full-time coach since the CWI management led by Skerritt ended Richard Pybus' stint in April this year - just weeks before the World Cup - following a review of the team's coaching and selection policies. Reifer had been at the helm since.

CWI's director of cricket Jimmy Adams, who was also one of the members on the interview panel, said: "I am happy, after a very robust recruitment process at the appointment of Phil to the role of Head Coach. I have no doubt that Phil brings the requisite leadership skills and experience needed to drive improvement across our international squads and I look forward to supporting him in the role."

That the position would go to a West Indian was made clear by the board before the selection process. They had said in September that "persons without West Indian heritage need not apply" for the role.

A CWI panel interviewed six candidates which were later shortlisted to three.

The new election panel for the men's team includes Roger Harper (lead selector) and Miles Bascombe; the women's and girl's panel includes Ann Browne-John (lead selector) and Travis Dowlin, and the boys' panel comprises Haynes.

The selection panels will get to work immediately with the men's team scheduled to play Afghanistan in India in November and the women's team set to host India for three ODIs and five T20Is starting November 1. The Under-19 team will host a tri-series with Sri Lanka and England in December in the lead up to the Under-19 World Cup in January in South Africa.

For the first time this season, the favorite to win NFL MVP resides in Seattle.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson moved ahead of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes this week and is now the betting favorite to win MVP at Caesars Sportsbook

Wilson has thrown for 14 touchdowns without an interception, leading the Seahawks out to a 5-1 start. He passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for a touchdown in the Seahawks' road win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He has accounted for 18 touchdowns this season.

Wilson, who has never won MVP and started the season with 20-1 odds to win the award, is now 2-1, just ahead of Mahomes at 5-2 at Caesars Sportsbook.

Mahomes, last season's MVP, also has thrown 14 touchdowns with one interception, but the Chiefs have dropped back-to-back home games to the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is 4-1, followed by Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey at 8-1. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is 12-1, and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 14-1.

Oddsmakers are paying more attention to Wilson than bettors are. Wilson ranks outside the top 12 in terms of number of bets to win MVP at Caesars Sportsbook, behind Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Trubisky is now 1,000-1, and Mayfield is 300-1.

More money has been bet on Mahomes to win MVP than has been bet on any other player. Wilson is sixth in money.