Sports briefly: Dustin Johnson won't golf for U.S. in Olympics

On the fence about the Olympics at the start of the year, Dustin Johnson decided he won't be going.

Johnson's manager said in a text message Monday that the FedEx Cup playoffs hold as much importance to Johnson as chasing a gold medal in Tokyo this summer.

"I feel certain he would choose otherwise if the timing were different, but feels he is making the best decision under the circumstances," said David Winkle of Hambric Sports Management.

Johnson's name was removed from the Olympic golf ranking Monday afternoon. At No. 5 in the world ranking, he would have been No. 3 among Americans behind Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas. Countries are allowed a maximum of four players in golf provided they are among the top 15 in the world ranking.

Golfweek first reported Johnson's decision.

Johnson was the leading American for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when he decided at the last minute to withdraw because of concerns over the Zika virus.

This was more about the FedEx Cup and the lucrative prize Johnson has yet to win. The top prize is now worth $15 million.

"Having had a few close calls in the playoffs, he really wants to win them before his time is done and feels that he wouldn't be giving himself the best opportunity to do so if he added a lengthy international trip," Winkle said.

With just over three months before Olympic qualifying ends, the leading four Americans are Koepka, Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Webb Simpson, following by Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods. There are still three majors, The Players Championship and a World Golf Championship — all offering big ranking points — before qualifying ends on June 21 after the U.S. Open.

Baseball's final qualifying event for the Tokyo Olympics has been postponed from April to June because of concerns over the virus outbreak that has infected nearly 89,000 people and caused more than 3,000 deaths, mostly in China.

The World Baseball Softball Conference announced the qualification event scheduled for Taichung and Dou Liu in Taiwan from April 1-5 had been postponed to June 17-21 because of "player, personnel and spectator health and safety measures against the spread of the coronavirus."

Hundreds of new cases of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease have been announced in recent days outside of China. There have been 40 cases and one death in Taiwan.

Nebraska receiver JD Spielman has gone home to deal with an unspecified health matter and probably will miss all of spring practice.

"Everyone's focus right now is on JD's well-being and providing him with the appropriate support," coach Scott Frost said Monday. "We anticipate JD returning to the team in time for summer conditioning."

Spielman is from Eden Prairie and going into his senior year. He led the Cornhuskers with 49 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns last season. He's the first Nebraska player with three 800-yard receiving seasons.

Spring practice opens March 9.

NFL: Jacksonville standout defensive end Yannick Ngakoue said he no longer wants to sign a long-term deal with the Jaguars, becoming the third Pro Bowler in less than a year to essentially give up on the team. Ngakoue announced his desire to play elsewhere via social media, a move that could force Jacksonville to place the franchise tag on the 24-year-old disgruntled defender and trade him.