Brock Purdy’s throwing elbow remains inflamed, so surgery on the 49ers’ quarterback has been postponed from Wednesday until likely next month, a league source confirmed Tuesday night.

Dr. Keith Meister recommended pushing back the procedure after examining Purdy in the Dallas area. That came on the eve of what still is expected to be a procedure in which an internal brace is inserted to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, as Tom Pelissero of NFL Media first reported.

Purdy tore the UCL in his right elbow when hit on the 49ers’ opening possession of their NFC Championship Game loss at Philadelphia on Jan. 29.

Some three weeks later, there remains a delay to repair Purdy’s elbow. While that may seem surprising, Purdy recently acknowledged why waiting was in his best interest, in case the torn ligament needed to “cool down,” as Purdy told KNBR 680-AM on Feb. 9.

Golf

LIV Golf gets another setback in court fight with PGA Tour >> A federal judge has ruled the PGA Tour can add Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and its governor, Yasir al-Rumayyan, as defendants in its countersuit in the ongoing legal fight with LIV Golf.

The ruling Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman was the second setback in the last week for Saudi-funded LIV Golf, which has accused the PGA Tour of monopolistic actions as the rival league gets started.

LIV Golf’s second season kicks off Friday at a Mexican beach resort south of Cancun.

Harrington, Pepper among 12 finalists for golf Hall of Fame >> Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, double major winner Dottie Pepper and swing coach Butch Harmon were among 12 finalists announced for the 2024 Class of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The 31-member nominating panel whittled the list down to four men, four women and four contributors. A 20-member selection panel comprising Hall of Fame members, media and leaders of major golf organizations meet on March 8 at The Players Championship to vote on induction.

Harrington was a finalist last time, the Irishman with 21 victories worldwide.

MLB

Yankees’ Montas has surgery, could return in 2nd half >> Frankie Montas won’t start throwing until at least late May following right shoulder surgery, a timetable that could allow him to pitch for the New York Yankees in the season’s second half.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday the labrum of the 29-year-old right-hander was cleaned up during the procedure a day earlier and Montas’ rotator cuff did not need to be repaired. Montas won’t throw for 12 weeks.

Montas was acquired from Oakland on Aug 1. and went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts with the Yankees. He didn’t pitch after Sept. 16 due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

NFL

Ex-player recovers after saving his kids from drowning >> A former NFL running back said he’s on the road to recovery after he nearly died while saving his two children from drowning in the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle.

Peyton Hillis issued a statement on Twitter, thanking those who helped him following the Jan. 4 incident on Pensacola Beach. He was initially on a ventilator, but was released from the hospital in mid-January.

Hillis was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2008 and also played with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants. He retired in 2015.

Soccer

MLS says San Diego, Las Vegas top candidates for 30th team >> With opening day approaching Saturday, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber expressed hope to pick a 30th team by the end of the year.

MLS has nearly tripled in size from 2004, when it was a 10-team league. St. Louis, the 29th team, starts play Saturday at Austin.

“We do need more teams. The 30th team will come at some point soon. Hopefully, we’d like to get that announced by the end of the year,” Garber said. “We say we’re going to stop at 30 but the other major leagues are larger than that. I never say never in Major League Soccer. There are many other markets that are opportunities for us. I think San Diego and Las Vegas are the most likely opportunities for 30.”

He mentioned Detroit; Phoenix; Sacramento and Tampa, Florida, as other expansion possibilities.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE >> Joško Gvardiol stifled the threat of Manchester City star Erling Haaland before scoring himself to earn Leipzig a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their round-of-16 matchup in the Champions League. ... Romelu Lukaku scored late to fire Inter Milan to a 1-0 win over 10-man Porto in the first leg of their round-of-16 matchup.

Tennis

Djokovic hopes to play in US despite being unvaccinated >> Novak Djokovic has asked American authorities for special permission to enter the United States to play tennis tournaments in California and Florida despite being unvaccinated against the coronavirus.

The Transportation Security Administration has said the requirement for foreign air travelers to be fully vaccinated against the disease would be in place at least until mid-April. The tournament in Indian Wells will be played from March 6-19 and the Miami Open is scheduled from March 20-April 2.