— GOLF

Tiger Woods to apologize for infidelity during first public appearance Friday

Tiger Woods is set to make his first public appearance since his extramarital escapades became worldwide news. He is expected to apologize for his infidelity during a briefing Friday at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Verdra Beach, Fla.

Golf’s No. 1 attraction will take the podium at 11 a.m. at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. Reports say Woods will make a statement and will not take questions.

Attendance also will be limited to ”a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates,” according to a two-paragraph statement sent via e-mail.

Reports have stated that Woods recently completed six weeks of treatment for sex addiction at a rehabilitation clinic in Mississippi. Whether Woods will address his competitive return on Friday remains unclear.

MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP: Ross McGowan of England rolled in a 30-foot par putt on the 19th hole at Marana, Ariz., to beat Steve Stricker, only the second time in the championship that the No. 1 seed was beaten in the opening round. McGowan got into the 64-man field because Tiger Woods did not enter. Stricker is the first top seed since Woods in 2002 to lose in the first round.

FOOTBALL

NFL: Cleveland has released running back Jamal Lewis. Lewis’ season ended on Dec. 2 when he was placed on injured reserve with post-concussion symptoms. He carried 143 times last year for 500 yards. He said halfway through the season that it would be his last.

n The Baltimore Ravens say they have signed wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth to a one-year contract. Stallworth was released by the Cleveland Browns after being reinstated by the NFL following a one-year suspension for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.

TENNIS

DAVIS CUP: United States captain Patrick McEnroe selected John Isner, Sam Querrey, and the doubles pairing of twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan to play a first-round match in Serbia on March 5-7. For the first time since 2000, neither Andy Roddick nor James Blake will be on the roster.

DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIP: Israel’s Shahar Peer upset top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 7-5 Wednesday, reaching the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championship a year after she was denied a visa to play in the tournament.

PREP SCHOOLS

BOYS HOCKEY: Andy Bettencourt had two goals and an assist, Jamie Tyminski added two goals and Bobby DiSorbo had two assists to avenge Hebron Academy’s prior loss against New Hampton with a 7-4 victory at Hebron.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Daisy Jordan had 31 points as Beaver Country Day School (17-3) beat Berwick Academy (5-10) 52-29 at South Berwick.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL: Mason Lopez had 26 points and Jahizz Rawlins added 14 for visiting Hebron Academy as the Lumberjacks beat Kents Hill, 69-55.

— From staff and news services