Golf On TV: The BBC and R&A have agreed a multi-million pound deal to televise the British Open championship for the next five years.
Last month's Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes, won by David Duval, marked the end of the previous five-year contract. That deal was believed to be worth £10 million and although no figures have been disclosed, it is believed the BBC could have had to pay up to three times that amount to secure the rights.
European Amateur: Irish international Stephen Browne added a 69 to his course record 65 on Wednesday to take the lead in the European Amateur Individual championship at Odense in Denmark.
The 27-year-old Hermitage player has a one-stroke advantage over Scotsman Stuart Wilson and Jerome Theunis of Belgium.
County Sligo's Sean McTernan is the next best placed Irishman on 141 while Limerick's Tim Rice is at one over par 145. Justin Kehoe from Birr, Colm Moriarty of Athlone and Irish champion Gavin McNeil, from Waterford, missed the cut.
Irish Boys' Close: Thomas Kearney, from Ballyliffin, moved up yesterday as first round leader Kenneth Fahey (Connemara) slipped at Donaghadee.
Kearney carded a five-under-par 66 to add to his opening 74 for 140 and a two shots cushion over Fahey, who fired a super 66 on Wednesday but took 10 shots more yesterday.
David Daly, of Muskerry moved up to joint third with a 69, while Barry Fitzsimons from Downpatrick joined him on 143 after a 72. Banbridge's Rory Doran, ninth reserve for the competition, carded rounds of 71 and 73 to be joint fifth with Michael Mulryan (Athenry) and Malone's Colm Montgomery.
