Sports News Roundup: Golf-Lagergren takes first-round lead at South African Open; NBA-Bronny James cleared for USC return after cardiac arrest and more

The puck went in at 18:52 for the first tally by a netminder in franchise history. NFL-Jets QB Rodgers back at practice 11 weeks after Achilles surgery Four-times National Football League MVP Aaron Rodgers returned to practice on Wednesday, 11 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair an Achilles tear he suffered early in his team's season opener, the New York Jets said.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Golf-Lagergren takes first-round lead at South African Open

Swede Joakim Lagergren carded a faultless seven under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the South African Open Championship at the Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate in Johannesburg on Thursday. The 32-year-old is chasing a first win on the DP World Tour since 2018 at the Gary Player-designed 8,233-yard course, which holds the record for being the longest on the tour.

NBA-Bronny James cleared for USC return after cardiac arrest

Bronny James, the teenage son of NBA great LeBron James, has been given the green light to rejoin his University of Southern California (USC) basketball team four months after he suffered a cardiac arrest during practice. "Bronny James is now cleared by his doctors for a full return to basketball," a spokesperson for the James Family said in a statement.

Olympics-Organisers of 2026 Winter Games should have foreign option for sliding centre-IOC

Organisers of Italy's Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics should be prepared to host the sliding competitions abroad to avoid any new construction, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday. The sliding centre hosts the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions during the Games and Italy's initial plan to reconstruct a sliding centre where an old, defunct venue existed had hit obstacles from the very start of preparations.

Golf-Woods 'mentally rusty' on return to competition

Tiger Woods said he felt "mentally rusty" on his return to competitive golf on Thursday after the 15-time major winner carded a three-over-par 75 in the first round of the PGA Tour's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. The former world number one has not played since April when he withdrew during the Masters due to injury before undergoing ankle surgery.

Olympics-Paris 2024 banks on further improvements to make River Seine suitable for swimming

The River Seine is already suitable for bathing two days out of three on average in the summer, but Paris is hoping to further improve the water quality as next year's Olympics loom. The primary goal is to make the Seine batheable by 2025, and the Games served as a huge boost, even though some sporting events were cancelled last summer because the health standards were not met following rare heavy rains and a sewer problem.

Tennis-Alcaraz shines in Mexico City as fans get a glimpse of world class tennis

An enthusiastic crowd of 20,340 fans gathered to watch Carlos Alcaraz play Tommy Paul at Mexico City's main bullring on Wednesday, grasping their one chance this year to see world class tennis players in their own city. Although the crowd was smaller than those which turned out to watch Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal at similar exhibitions in previous years, there was no less passion at the Monumental Plaza de Toros.

Sports-Former U.S. athlete Fleshman wins sports book of the year prize

Former U.S. distance runner Lauren Fleshman's "Good for a Girl: My Life Running in a Man’s World" was crowned winner of the 2023 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award on Thursday, earning her 30,000 pounds ($37,920) and a huge publicity boost. Fleshman, perennially successful in the U.S. where she was twice the national 5,000m champion, raced in three world championships but missed out on the Olympics. She went on to have a successful coaching and punditry career.

NBA roundup: Hawks' Trae Young puts up 45 vs. Spurs

Trae Young poured in a season-high 45 points and dished out 14 assists and Dejounte Murray added 24 points as the visiting Atlanta Hawks rallied for a 137-135 victory over the reeling San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 14 points off the bench for the Hawks, with Saddiq Bey scoring 13 and De'Andre Hunter and Clint Capela tallying 12 each.

NHL roundup: G Tristan Jarry scores, Pens top Lightning

Goaltender Tristan Jarry had 39 saves and made Pittsburgh history by scoring a goal as the Penguins won at Tampa Bay for the fourth straight time, beating the Lightning 4-2 on Thursday night. Sixteen minutes after Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal -- his first this season -- on a give-and-go with Matt Nieto at 2:49 in the third period, Jarry lifted the puck with his goalie stick and lofted a long shot toward the Lightning's empty net. The puck went in at 18:52 for the first tally by a netminder in franchise history.

NFL-Jets QB Rodgers back at practice 11 weeks after Achilles surgery

Four-times National Football League MVP Aaron Rodgers returned to practice on Wednesday, 11 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair an Achilles tear he suffered early in his team's season opener, the New York Jets said. Opening the 21-day practice window for Rodgers, who turns 40 on Saturday, does not necessarily mean he will return to game action this season as the team will now use the time to decide whether to activate the quarterback from injured reserve.