Today's other stories in brief

Rule change for golf club grooves

GOLF:Ireland beat Scotland on the first day of the Boys Home Internationals in a closely-fought match in tough conditions at Royal County Down. The home team had to overturn a foursomes deficit to register an 8½-6½ victory.

From the start of the afternoon singles, it looked likely the match would go to the wire, with the first game setting the pattern. Scotland's Michael Stewart raced to a four-hole lead against Reeve Whitson, and while Whitson did drag himself back into the match, he eventually lost by one hole.

The next three matches, however, all went the way of the hosts. First to finish was Luke Lennox, who beat James Ross 7 and 6 in the fourth match. Minutes later, Alan Dunbar shrugged off both the weather and the challenge of Kyle Smith to win the third match 6 and 4.

In the Girls competition in Scotland, Ireland went down 6-3 to England.

Honda may move for Renault's Alonso

MOTOR SPORT:Honda boss Ross Brawn has reignited speculation that he is targeting Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso for the 2009 season.

The Formula One the team are reported to be considering offering the Spaniard a short-term deal to partner Britain's Jenson Button.

Brawn said: "Fernando is one of the top drivers in Formula One and I think every team apart from one would welcome him.

"We are no different, but whether it happens, who knows?"

Honda's current drivers Button and Rubens Barrichello are both out of contract at the end of the season. And while it was believed the team would go with the same pairing and Brawn is in the midst of negotiations with them, he is said to be tempted to make a move for Alonso to capitalise on technical advancements on the 2009 car.

Ireland Boys win on day one

GOLF: Golf's governing bodies have announced revisions to equipment rules in a bid to make it tougher to get out of the rough.

The new rules, which relate to club-face grooves, will come into effect at professional level from 2010 and at top amateur level from 2014.

"We believe this rule change is necessary to reinforce the importance of accuracy at the highest levels of the game," an Royal and Ancient statement said.

They said extensive research in collaboration with the United States Golf Association proved modern grooves can allow players to generate almost as much spin from the rough as from the fairway.

All clubs, with the exception of drivers and putters, will be affected.

Johnson hands back medal

ATHLETICS: US Olympic champion Michael Johnson has returned his 4x400m Sydney 2000 Olympics gold medal to the International Olympic Committee after his then team-mate Antonio Pettigrew admitted to doping, the IOC said yesterday.

Johnson, who has won four other Olympic golds, had said he would return it after Pettigrew's court testimony in May.