Briefs-Israel's Beitar Jerusalem sack coach Shum

Sept 4 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world:

Soccer - Israeli champions Beitar Jerusalem have dismissed coach Yitzhak Shum and replaced him with compatriot Reuven Atar, the club said in a statement on its website.

The club began the league season with a goalless draw against Bnei Sakhnin on Sunday and lie bottom of the standings with a minus-one points total. The club were deducted two league points for a pitch invasion by fans last season.

Atar spent the end of his playing career at Beitar before being forced to retire through injury. He coached Maccabi Netanya over the past two seasons when they finished as runners-up to Beitar on both occasions.

Golf - Gary Wolstenholme, one of golf's most successful amateurs, has turned professional at the age of 48.

The European Tour announced that Wolstenholme will play in this month's Kazakhstan Open on the Challenge Tour as a professional.

Briton Wolstenholme won the British Amateur championship in 1991 and 2003.

Tennis - Thailand's two WTA tournaments will be amalgamated as part of the tour's "international series" and will be contested in the beach resort of Pattaya in February, organisers said on Thursday.

The Bangkok Open, which normally takes place in October, will be replaced by an upgraded version of the Pattaya Open, taking take place from Feb. 8-15, 2009.