Off the wire

TENNIS Venus wins in Miami

Three-time tournament champion Venus Williams won her opening match Thursday at the new site of the Miami Open by beating Dalila Jakupovic 7-5, 6-3. Williams won the tournament in 1998, 1999 and 2001 when it was played on Key Biscayne. The event moved this year to the Miami Dolphins’ complex at Miami Gardens, and Williams played in the stadium. Whitney Osuigwe, a 16-year-old qualifier from Bradenton, Fla., earned her first WTA Tour victory by beating Mari Osaka, 6-2, 6-4. Osaka is the sister of 2018 champion Naomi Osaka. No. 3-seeded Petra Kvitova won her opening match by beating Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4.

GOLF

Two share lead

Joel Dahmen took advantage of gentle morning conditions Thursday for a 5-under 66 and a share of the lead with Austrian-born Sepp Straka in the Valspar Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla. He handled the tough Copperhead course with six birdies and a strong finish — a 6-iron to 4 feet for birdie on No. 3, a 7-iron to 5 feet on the par-3 fourth hole, a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 9. The lead stood when the wind picked up in the afternoon. Of the 28 rounds in the 60s, only eight were in the afternoon. One of them belonged to Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 player in the world. He had a 69. Russell Knox wiped out a double bogey on No. 9 by hitting 3-wood into the cup from 274 yards for an albatross on the par-5 11th, and riding that to a 29 on the back nine. He was one shot behind at 67. The group at 67 included Kevin Kisner and Luke Donald.

Four out front

Na Yeon Choi had an unexpected share of the Founders Cup lead halfway through the first round Thursday in her return from a back injury. Choi shot a 7-under 65 at Desert Ridge in Phoenix in her first tournament round in 11 months. She joined Charlotte Thomas, Alana

Uriell (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Jin Young Ko atop the leaderboard in the event that honors the 13 women who founded the LPGA Tour. Choi’s close friend Jenny Shin was a stroke back. Carlota Ciganda and Monday qualifier Cheyenne Knight matched Shin at 66. Defending champion Inbee Park shot 69.

BASEBALL

Big Goldschmidt deal?

The St. Louis Cardinals and new first baseman Paul Goldschmidt are finalizing a five-year extension worth around $130 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

The deal is expected to be finalized by Saturday. The extension will start after 2019 and carry through 2024. The completion of the deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled for today. John Mozeliak, Cardinals president of baseball operations, declined comment on any specific pending deal. Goldschmidt’s extension surpasses Matt Holliday’s seven-year, $120-million contract as the largest in club history. He also surpasses Yadier Molina’s $20 million salary to become the highest paid Cardinal ever. The Cardinals acquired Goldschmidt from Arizona in a four-player deal that sent catcher Carson Kelly and pitcher Luke Weaver along with a draft pick and a prospect to the Diamondbacks.

Sabathia returns

New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia returned to the mound Thursday for the first time since undergoing a heart procedure in December. Sabathia allowed 1 run and 2 hits over 2 innings on Thursday in a minor league exhibition game, striking out 3 for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Toledo, Detroit’s Class AAA affiliate. Sabathia said he “felt great” after his 26-pitch outing. Sabathia will make another minor league appearance on Tuesday against Philadelphia Phillies prospects. He is expected to miss his first two or three regular season starts.

Snell, Rays agree

American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a $50 million, five-year contract that covers three seasons of arbitration eligibility plus two years after he could have become a free agent. The team announced the deal Thursday, less than two weeks after renewing the left-hander’s contract at a salary of $573,700 for the upcoming season. That would have been a raise of just $15,500 from 2018, when he led the league with 21 victories. Snell’s new deal includes a $3 million signing bonus and a raise to $1 million for this season.

FIGURE SKATING Union: No intent of harm

The International Skating Union said Thursday there is “no evidence” that American figure skater Mariah Bell intentionally harmed a South Korean rival in an alleged incident during a warmup on the opening day of the world championships. South Korean management agency All That Sports published a statement Wednesday saying Bell had cut the calf of Lim Eun-soo with her skate during an official practice before the short program, but the ISU reviewed video of the session and said there was no proof that the American had acted deliberately.