Observations from Saturday at Lahinch 🇮🇪
1. Holy shit, the crowds. Only 1,000 people live in Lahinch and yet, there's more than 8,000 people walking every fairway, surrounding every green. It's manic at times but it works and creates a really unique atmosphere. No booing or bad blood, just a bunch of golf fans walking with really, really good golfers.
2. Wild how still it was this morning considering the weather we had the last three days. When the first ball was hit, there wasn't a single flag moving. GB&I were 15-under par in the 4 foursomes matches this morning, and the only team that lost was 5-under when they lost. Fear not, the challenging weather is forecasted to return tomorrow!
3. What a day for Niall Sheils Donegan. Rules controversy, a perfect 2-0 record with smiles and shotmaking throughout. Nice line after saying he's glad it was foursomes and he didn't have to tee off after his "brainfart" on the non-conceded putt. Said he was running a little too hot to hit a controlled drive on the next hole. Very likeable lad though and visibly bigger and stronger than last year at Cypress.
4. The 13th hole at Lahinch is great and even better in match play. Just 300 yards, loads of undulation and awkward spots around the green. Fun front pin today with run offs short and right. Also a great place to watch golf. I watched five groups this afternoon through there.
5. How big are the dunes at Lahinch? There was supposedly 1,500 kids out there today. I'd say most of them had a go at sliding down several different dunes. Full send, frontal slides, cruising 40-50 yards down into the rough.
6. It's fun watching guys try and "bunt" drives and iron shots. Sort of off-speed shots to get under the wind and run. Grehan, Donegan and Hagestad seem to have it mastered. If the wind gets up tomorrow, that control will be key.
7. The uniforms this week, on both sides, are so cool. Both by Peter Millar. Muted colours, retro looks for both teams but still simple and classy. Not sure why they don't sell the gear on-site but one player told me "I got three suitcases full of it, it's awesome."
8. Mad how there can be 8,000 spectators on a golf course and it seems every one of them knows each other. Plenty of drinks and laughs yet it's all about the golf.
9. Really hope the GB&I lads get it done tomorrow. Yes, to stop the run of U.S. wins but also because there's about 12 pubs on the high street in Lahinch that would be perfect for a post-victory team night out!
Ireland’s corporation tax receipts reached €32.9 billion in 2025, marking a 17.2% increase from 2024 and contributing significantly to the Exchequer surplus. Ireland runs an exchequer surplus yet has no socialised health system, a minimum defence budget, no metro, VAT is set at 23% (UK is 20%) and the middle-class carries the second highest tax burden in the OECD. Where does it all go?
https://t.co/rYxke58VjM
This is DeMeco Ryans third year as the Texans coach. This will be his third playoff win. Or as many as Mike Tomlin has had since 2010. But I am sure the national guys will all blame Rodgers.......
JUST IN: 🇪🇺🌎Catastrophe for EU's farmers and European food security after EU’s Mercosur free trade deal set to be signed with 4 South American countries.
Von der Leyen has won, along with her real constituents, lobbyists and massive chemical and agribusiness corporations.
The deciding factor was Italian PM Giorgia Meloni deciding to back the deal, in what will be viewed as a bitter betrayal by many conservatives.
The EU commission will bypass the democratically elected EU parliament entirely. The commission intends to “omit the European Parliament from the further procedure,” which grants European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the authority to sign the deal directly.
While a significant coalition of nations opposed the move—specifically Poland, France, Ireland, Hungary, and Austria, with Belgium abstaining—they failed to reach the required “blocking minority.” Italian PM Meloni gave earlier signals she would not back the deal but ultimately aligned with von der Leyen despite mass protests by farmers.
The risks are enormous. Brazil alone allows the use of as many as 3,669 pesticides. Europe’s emphasis on “eating local” to reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation will become a joke, as food from halfway around the world will often be cheaper than locally produced goods. However, European chemical companies will reap massive profits.
Much of the food Europeans eat in the future will be flowing from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, which features the most "agrotoxicity" in the world.
"This Brazilian state is the kingdom of the agricultural industry. Cotton, rice, sugarcane, corn, massive production of transgenic soybeans, and record pesticide use. Mato Grosso wins every global competition in the field of agrotoxicity. That’s the term used by those who condemn the chemical empire. Brazil allows the use of 3,669 pesticides. It’s a veritable Eldorado for corporations, primarily European ones. Products banned on the Old Continent are sold here,” argued the French-German documentary "Pesticides: Europe's Hypocrisy."
Polish MEP Anna Bryłka (@annabrylka) has also outlined how the pesticide use in South America also represents not only a health risk, but also a competitive risk for Polish and European farmers.
Bryłka argues that "farmers from Mercosur countries produce food according to standards that are banned in the EU: other plant protection products, growth hormones, lack of real environmental standards." This forces European farmers to compete with cheaper production that is legally prohibited within their own borders. She further characterizes the import of food with unknown standards as a "risk to the health of millions of Europeans."
Another "big win" for backers of the EU, all with zero transparency and not even a vote from the only democratically-elected body, the European Parliament.
Mike Tomlin will say something like, "We can't eat soup with forks. We need spoons." Then the Steelers will sign a 2018 Pro Bowler to the practice squad.
🚨🚨CRAZIEST STAT EVER🚨🚨
#Cowboys WR George Pickens has MORE RECEIVING YARDS than all the Pittsburgh #Steelers wide receivers combined this season.
Pickens individual receiving yards: 1,044
Pittsburgh WR corp total yards: 1,009
Pittsburgh traded Pickens for a 3rd rounder.
Mason Rudolph has to get the ball out there. That's the second turnover he's killed the #Steelers with today even with a simplified gameplan.
You're seeing why he's the backup.
This was an absolutely filthy try from Munster v Argentina
Tony B with the vision, work rate and pace, Ben O Connor with the disgustingly good offload and Jack o Donoghue doing the link man.
Unreal