Archive December 5, 2025

McIlroy makes Australian Open cut with birdie at 18th

Images courtesy of Getty

Second-round leaderboard for the Australian Open

-9 D Rodrigues (Por), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den), -8 MW Lee (Aus), -7 C Smith (Aus), A Scott (Aus), C Ortiz (Mex), -6 C Surrat (USA), R Caberro Bello (Spa), W Ding (Chi), K Aphibarnrat (TH), D Hillier (Aus), R Fox (Aus), SW Woo (KR)

In the second round, Rory McIlroy needed to birdie for the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne by par on the 18th hole.

The Masters champion moved to two-under after two rounds with a third-round score of 68 to finish within the cut line.

The Northern Irishman bounced back in the second round to finish one under nine under, making three birdies in the final four holes to move seven shots clear of joint leaders Daniel Rodrigues and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who are both nine under.

McIlroy, who has won the Australian Open for the first time since 2014, put together a strong front nine with a birdie and eight pars.

On the par-five fourteenth, he struggled with a bogey that included a rare air shot, making four more pars before returning to the clubhouse.

He made the cut and continued to rise steadily up the leaderboard thanks to a birdie at the 15th, 17th, and 18th.

McIlroy thought the conditions had improved significantly in comparison to the challenging crosswinds he faced in the opening day.

He told Sky Sports, “Opposite wind coming out of the south definitely played like a different golf course, different clubs off tees.”

“A few different choices. The course is getting better, and it was great. You’re really getting creative, especially with your approach shots.

It was nice to finish the way I did, despite the fact that it wasn’t my best work the last few days were.

After the bogey on 14, the finish was disappointing, but we were pleased to be here for the weekend.

The 36-year-old also believes that a successful third round debut could prepare him for a Stonehaven Cup run.

Seven isn’t too far back, but I think I can get myself back into the tournament if I shoot a good one there tomorrow morning.

Cameron Adam, a professional golfer from Scotland, also made the cut with a 64 in the second round to move to one-under after two rounds.

related subjects

  • Golf
  • Northern Ireland is a sport

More on this story.

    • 23 hours ago
    Rory McIlroy in action at the Australian Open

McIlroy makes Australian Open cut with birdie at 18th

Images courtesy of Getty

Second-round leaderboard for the Australian Open

-9 D Rodrigues (Por), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den), -8 MW Lee (Aus), -7 C Smith (Aus), A Scott (Aus), C Ortiz (Mex), -6 C Surrat (USA), R Caberro Bello (Spa), W Ding (Chi), K Aphibarnrat (TH), D Hillier (Aus), R Fox (Aus), SW Woo (KR)

In the second round, Rory McIlroy needed to birdie for the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne by par on the 18th hole.

The Masters champion moved to two-under after two rounds with a third-round score of 68 to finish within the cut line.

The Northern Irishman bounced back in the second round to finish one under nine under, making three birdies in the final four holes to move seven shots clear of joint leaders Daniel Rodrigues and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who are both nine under.

McIlroy, who has won the Australian Open for the first time since 2014, put together a strong front nine with a birdie and eight pars.

On the par-five fourteenth, he struggled with a bogey that included a rare air shot, making four more pars before returning to the clubhouse.

He made the cut and continued to rise steadily up the leaderboard thanks to a birdie at the 15th, 17th, and 18th.

McIlroy thought the conditions had improved significantly in comparison to the challenging crosswinds he faced in the opening day.

He told Sky Sports, “Opposite wind coming out of the south definitely played like a different golf course, different clubs off tees.”

“A few different choices. The course is getting better, and it was great. You’re really getting creative, especially with your approach shots.

It was nice to finish the way I did, despite the fact that it wasn’t my best work the last few days were.

After the bogey on 14, the finish was disappointing, but we were pleased to be here for the weekend.

The 36-year-old also believes that a successful third round debut could prepare him for a Stonehaven Cup run.

Seven isn’t too far back, but I think I can get myself back into the tournament if I shoot a good one there tomorrow morning.

Cameron Adam, a professional golfer from Scotland, also made the cut with a 64 in the second round to move to one-under after two rounds.

related subjects

  • Golf
  • Northern Ireland is a sport

More on this story.

    • 23 hours ago
    Rory McIlroy in action at the Australian Open

Inside The Abandons star Lena Headey’s life with Ozark star husband

Lena Headey and her Ozark husband, The Mirror, live inside The Abandons.

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After the premiere of her new series, Netflix viewers are intrigued by the Game of Thrones actress.

Everything you need to know about Lena Headey from The Abandons

    A brand-new Netflix drama series about the conflicts between illegal groups in the Old West is set in the year 1850. The seven-part series, which has received positive reviews from both the critics and viewers, has just recently been released, and viewers have already been rushing to binge it.

  • Lena Headey, the renowned Game of Thrones actor Fiona Nolan, and Gillian Anderson, the series’ lead, face an uphill battle between Constance Van Ness and Sex Education and The Crown. Headey portrays a devout Catholic woman who has adopted four orphans and is quickly faced with Constance, who tries to take Fiona’s new home in Oregon as her own.
  • A star-crossed love, an untold story, an untold secret, and, most importantly, a valuable piece of land are the two families’ ties. Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson, Natalia del Riego, Lucas Till, and Aisling Franciosi are also on the Abandons cast. Here’s the lowdown on Headey’s life outside of the cameras and her partner, which many people are curious about.
  • Headey was the child of Susan and John Headey, a police officer from Yorkshire stationed in Hamilton at the time as part of the Bermudan Border Force.
  • Bermuda Police Force. The family moved back to England and settled in Somerset when the star was five, along with a younger brother named Tim.
  • When she was 17 years old, she began acting in the 1992 film Waterland while working in a production at the Royal National Theatre. Throughout the 1990s, she put a strong foundation on various films and TV projects. In addition to other roles, she also appeared in the popular period drama The Remains of the Day, the television series Soldier Solider, Band of Gold, Mrs. Dalloway, and Onegin.
  • She had appeared in The Brothers Grimm, 300, and The Sarah Connor Chronicles by the 2000s. However, it was her now-famous role in HBO’s Game of Thrones as Cersei Lannister, which made her a household name. Headey has appeared in movies like Gunpowder Milkshake, Bullets, White House Plumbers, and Normal since the fantasy drama is over, with The Abandons firmly putting her in the spotlight.
  • Headey and Marc Menchaca, who she first started dating in 2020, have been married to each other since 2022. Some of her former Game of Thrones co-stars, including Sophie Turner and Peter Dinklage, were present for the private ceremony. Menchaca is best known for his roles in The Sinner, Manifest, and The Outsider as well as Russ Langmore’s in Ozark.
  • Between 2007 and 2013, she married musician Peter Loughran. The actress and her ex-husband Loughran have two children, Wylie and Teddy, both of whom she co-wrote the short film The Devil’s Wedding. Although Headey and Cadan had already dated in 2019, they had already split up.
  • Headey has openly described her postpartum depression struggles and said she was struggling during some of the most upsetting scenes in Game of Thrones’ first season. She sought help, which helped her through her postpartum depression as she juggled working on what would become one of the world’s biggest TV shows, and motherhood.
  • LEARN THE FULL STORY: From acting husband to postpartum depression.
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Martin Kemp says younger I’m A Celeb stars are competing for airtime after ‘disappearing’

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Martin Kemp has spoken out about his apparent lack of screen time. after becoming the most recent celebrity to have the show canceled.

Martin Kemp said his younger co-stars were doing ‘magic tricks’ to compete for airtime as he explained apparent absence from I’m A Celebrity.

The Spandau Ballet star, 64, became the latest famous face to be eliminated from the ITV reality show on Thursday evening, following on from Ruby Wax, Kelly Brook, Vogue Williams, Eddie Kadi and Alex Scott.

Viewers of the long-running reality show complained that Martin was on screen far less than his fellow campmates, and during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Friday via video link, he spoke out sitting back and adopting a ‘fatherly role’ in camp.

He told hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins, “I suppose my role was to let the kids be kids and bring a little bit of calm into the camp. I know that was going to be my role, because I don’t want to jump in front of the camera and perform magic tricks.”

READ MORE: I’m A Celeb announce major rule change with just days to go until 2025 finalREAD MORE: I’m A Celeb fans accuse Angry Ginge of ‘sabotage’ as he’s forced to apologise

The Gold singer claimed that the camp’s younger members, including Aitch and Angryginge, were much more focused on delivering their best work to the cameras in the early stages of their careers.

He continued, “I completely understand that those guys are at the beginning of their careers, and that’s what they want to do.” I’m on the other end of the scale, but I’m there for it, which I adore!

Tom Read-Wilson, a celebrity chef known for his etymology and distinctive way of speaking, is the one who Celebs Go Dating’s star chose to be the King or Queen of the Jungle as King or Queen right now.

He declared, “I would love for Tom to win.” Tom has been my most heartfelt and authentic person for years. He is the only man I’ve ever met who genuinely cares about you and says he loves you.

Martin made up jokes about the experience being a “weird trip,” but he enjoyed having the chance to sit back and think.

He said: “I have dreamt about this moment. It’s just a weird trip. I have enjoyed the other people, sitting around talking. I am not one for making new friends but I have loved it.”

He continued, “I feel like I’ve experienced it, done everything I wanted to do, and I can leave with some brilliant anecdotes.” I’ve always felt a little quieter than everyone else and a little on the outside.

Shona McGarty sweetly exclaimed, “Bye dad,” as Martin left the camp. And he supported Shona’s victory. He claims that she is the “most beautiful songbird ever.” I also discovered my emotional and patient nature. I was constantly wanting to cry.

Fans, however, were furious that he had left. How is it possible to not love Martin Kemp? I’m so sorry to see him leave tonight. Another questioned how Martin Kemp could have been removed from the role if Jack Osbourne were still there. Ruby Wax shattered any hope that Aitch and Shona McGarty could end their forever romance in the jungle.

The star told how the EastEnders actress secretly confided in her that the rapper was “not her type” in scenes not aired by ITV. Opening up about Shona’s confession about Aitch, Ruby said: “He’s not her type at all. She said she likes hunky, bigger men so that she feels female, so he wasn’t on the list at all.”

She also pointed towards the “age difference” with Aitch aged 25, while Shona is 34. Ruby says: “I wanted her to marry him. I thought we could have children and we’d live in the forest forever. But she said that’s not her type. I thought we would have the next generation living in the forest, but no go.”

She explained to the two youngest people that she was unsure of why she believed they could have made a good couple. “They both sang. Not, why? She stopped me while I was performing mating rituals. He also lacked that quality. No, I believe he was just drawn to her. She enjoys big men.

This story, do you like? Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and .net/@dailymirror” target=”_blank” aria-label=”[object Object]Link opens in a new tab.” tabindex=”0″>Threads for more latest news and gossip.

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‘A wonderful miracle’ – how Messi & Beckham made Miami shine

BBB Sport
  • 13 Comments

No one could have predicted what would happen when David Beckham decided to start the Major League Soccer team in Miami in 2013.

The former England captain made his MLS debut in March 2020 after purchasing the US franchise for a discounted £15.6 million as part of a financial package he negotiated when he joined the LA Galaxy in 2007 as a player.

Inter Miami are on the verge of winning the league’s most prize when they face Thomas Muller’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final on Saturday after signing arguably the greatest player in the world Lionel Messi in 2023.

Due to Miami’s enormous surge of interest in football across America, success would cap an exponential rise for “Project Beckham” both on and off the field.

The co-owner Beckham’s role was described as “amazing” by chief business officer Xavi Asensi.

This is what we’ve been attempting to do from the beginning, according to the statement.

Lionel Messi playing for Inter MiamiGetty Images

After spending 10 years with Barcelona, Asensi, now 43, served as the club’s chief commercial officer and a member of the club’s executive board. He then joined Inter Miami in April 2021.

The main objective of our negotiations with owners Jorge Mas, [his brother] Jose Mas, and David Beckham in charge, he said, was to win on the pitch.

Lionel Messi, in my opinion, is the greatest player ever, both subjectively and objectively. It’s obvious that you want the best player on your roster, so it’s obvious.

Overnight, we became a club that everyone knew.

David Beckham hugging Lionel MessiGetty Images
After weeks of rumors about his next move, Inter Miami made the signing of Messi, bringing the five-year courtship to an end.

After two seasons at Paris St. Germain, where he won two Ligue 1 titles and a Super Cup, the Argentina-born star made the decision to pursue Miami and MLS.

When the deal was finalized, Beckham woke up at 5am to a slew of notifications; his wife, Victoria, had advised him to turn his phone off, but he later saw the news and cried.

Asensi recalls that we changed from being an MLS club to a club that I would say everyone knew in a matter of days.

Everyone discussed it in “every outlet in the world.” craziness . It launched Inter Miami into the spotlight from Fiji to Anchorage, Patagonia to Mongolia.

Messi and former Barca teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and coach Gerardo Martino, who had managed him at Barcelona and with Argentina, reconnected on the pitch in Miami.

He then agreed to stay at Inter Miami until December 2028. According to reports, he makes between £37 million and £45 million from the club, with Apple donating a portion of MLS Season Pass subscription revenue from shirts sales and Adidas boosting his income.

Asensi explains that the US is the world’s number one nation economically and that the world is talking about the number one sport.

The Messi effect increases by 20%.

Full stadium in MiamiGetty Images

Nearly every Inter Miami game was sold out right away, bringing the MLS into the global football conversation.

Their social media presence increased from about two million to about fifty million today.

After Messi’s debut, the average MLS crowd increased by about 20%, and his first 10 games’ average MLS attendance increased by 20%.

The league, which was once viewed as a minor curiosity, quickly gained a significant place in daily sports bulletins. Americans were finally taking their sport seriously.

Tickets went up in a dynamic pricing system. Pre-Messi, prices were around £40, but they are now between £150 and £200 to see Miami in action.

In order to keep up with demand, the teams that host Inter Miami and Messi would relocate.

The Cleveland Browns NFL side’s home field, located 150 miles north of Columbus, moved from Lower.com Field Stadium in Columbus (capacity 20, 371) to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland (capacity 60, 614).

The largest non-NFL event in the stadium’s history, which had a sellout, set a single-game record for a Crew home game.

Annual club revenue grew from £41m in 2022 to £160m in 2024.

The “Messi effect” led to a record attendance of more than 11.4 million in the years 2023-2014 for the league.

His debut resulted in the addition of 300,000 Apple TV subscribers for the MLS Season Pass, doubling the base. The top-selling item in the league was Messi’s number 10, and merchandise sales increased by 41%.

Other clubs, which had Inter Miami as their host, sold an additional £63 million in tickets. Additionally, gate receipts totalling £198 million increased the average ticket price by 1,700%.

Asensi states, “Leo will be unavoidable. Nobody will be able to fill those shoes, of course. We are attempting to make that legacy a magnet for future generations of talented players.

Inter Miami a hotspot for celebrities

Kim Kardashian attending an Inter Miami gameGetty Images

Inter Miami has become a gathering place for the great and the good from beyond football thanks to a steady flow of sporting icons, pop stars, and global influencers.

Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos could be talking about their past encounters with Serena Williams, while Floyd Mayweather, Tom Brady, or Aryna Sabalenka, Lionel Richie, who Messi was named after, could be having a conversation with LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, or Eva Longoria.

From Art Deco buildings and neon signs to flamingos and pastel coastlines, Beckham quickly realized how deeply the color pink echoes throughout Miami’s visual identity.

He eventually prevailed over the initial strong opposition that pink should be Inter Miami’s defining color.

Beckham contributed to the development of a “Miami” brand. The club is instantly identifiable thanks to its entirely pink identity.

Up until a week ago, Inter Miami had already won two titles, the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, going from being the champions in a year.

New stadium construction is on the horizon

Miami Freedom ParkGetty Images

Inter Miami will play most of the MLS campaign at Miami Freedom Park as their new stadium nears completion.

The club has played at Fort Lauderdale’s 21, 500-seat Chase Stadium since joining the league in 2020. Five away games will be played before the season is over to allow for the construction to be finished.

With the new stadium, the club could reach unprecedented heights: Asensi claims that after spending £160 million ($215 million) this season, “we are hoping to go over a quarter of a billion dollars” in income in the coming years.

Overall, Asensi describes it as a miracle. It’s a wonderful miracle because it’s dreamy and daring. We are extremely fortunate to be a part of the club, from the owners to everyone who works there.

related subjects

  • Major League Soccer in the United States
  • Football

More on this story.

    • 17 October
    A graphic of Premier League players from every team in the division in 2025-26 season, with the Premier League trophy in front of them.
    • August 16
    BBB Sport microphone and phone

‘A wonderful miracle’ – how Messi & Beckham made Miami shine

BBB Sport
  • 13 Comments

No one could have predicted what would happen when David Beckham decided to start the Major League Soccer team in Miami in 2013.

The former England captain made his MLS debut in March 2020 after purchasing the US franchise for a discounted £15.6 million as part of a financial package he negotiated when he joined the LA Galaxy in 2007 as a player.

Inter Miami are on the verge of winning the league’s most prize when they face Thomas Muller’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final on Saturday after signing arguably the greatest player in the world Lionel Messi in 2023.

Due to Miami’s enormous surge of interest in football across America, success would cap an exponential rise for “Project Beckham” both on and off the field.

The co-owner Beckham’s role was described as “amazing” by chief business officer Xavi Asensi.

This is what we’ve been attempting to do from the beginning, according to the statement.

Lionel Messi playing for Inter MiamiGetty Images

After spending 10 years with Barcelona, Asensi, now 43, served as the club’s chief commercial officer and a member of the club’s executive board. He then joined Inter Miami in April 2021.

The main objective of our negotiations with owners Jorge Mas, [his brother] Jose Mas, and David Beckham in charge, he said, was to win on the pitch.

Lionel Messi, in my opinion, is the greatest player ever, both subjectively and objectively. It’s obvious that you want the best player on your roster, so it’s obvious.

Overnight, we became a club that everyone knew.

David Beckham hugging Lionel MessiGetty Images
After weeks of rumors about his next move, Inter Miami made the signing of Messi, bringing the five-year courtship to an end.

After two seasons at Paris St. Germain, where he won two Ligue 1 titles and a Super Cup, the Argentina-born star made the decision to pursue Miami and MLS.

When the deal was finalized, Beckham woke up at 5am to a slew of notifications; his wife, Victoria, had advised him to turn his phone off, but he later saw the news and cried.

Asensi recalls that we changed from being an MLS club to a club that I would say everyone knew in a matter of days.

Everyone discussed it in “every outlet in the world.” craziness . It launched Inter Miami into the spotlight from Fiji to Anchorage, Patagonia to Mongolia.

Messi and former Barca teammates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and coach Gerardo Martino, who had managed him at Barcelona and with Argentina, reconnected on the pitch in Miami.

He then agreed to stay at Inter Miami until December 2028. According to reports, he makes between £37 million and £45 million from the club, with Apple donating a portion of MLS Season Pass subscription revenue from shirts sales and Adidas boosting his income.

Asensi explains that the US is the world’s number one nation economically and that the world is talking about the number one sport.

The Messi effect increases by 20%.

Full stadium in MiamiGetty Images

Nearly every Inter Miami game was sold out right away, bringing the MLS into the global football conversation.

Their social media presence increased from about two million to about fifty million today.

After Messi’s debut, the average MLS crowd increased by about 20%, and his first 10 games’ average MLS attendance increased by 20%.

The league, which was once viewed as a minor curiosity, quickly gained a significant place in daily sports bulletins. Americans were finally taking their sport seriously.

Tickets went up in a dynamic pricing system. Pre-Messi, prices were around £40, but they are now between £150 and £200 to see Miami in action.

In order to keep up with demand, the teams that host Inter Miami and Messi would relocate.

The Cleveland Browns NFL side’s home field, located 150 miles north of Columbus, moved from Lower.com Field Stadium in Columbus (capacity 20, 371) to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland (capacity 60, 614).

The largest non-NFL event in the stadium’s history, which had a sellout, set a single-game record for a Crew home game.

Annual club revenue grew from £41m in 2022 to £160m in 2024.

The “Messi effect” led to a record attendance of more than 11.4 million in the years 2023-2014 for the league.

His debut resulted in the addition of 300,000 Apple TV subscribers for the MLS Season Pass, doubling the base. The top-selling item in the league was Messi’s number 10, and merchandise sales increased by 41%.

Other clubs, which had Inter Miami as their host, sold an additional £63 million in tickets. Additionally, gate receipts totalling £198 million increased the average ticket price by 1,700%.

Asensi states, “Leo will be unavoidable. Nobody will be able to fill those shoes, of course. We are attempting to make that legacy a magnet for future generations of talented players.

Inter Miami a hotspot for celebrities

Kim Kardashian attending an Inter Miami gameGetty Images

Inter Miami has become a gathering place for the great and the good from beyond football thanks to a steady flow of sporting icons, pop stars, and global influencers.

Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos could be talking about their past encounters with Serena Williams, while Floyd Mayweather, Tom Brady, or Aryna Sabalenka, Lionel Richie, who Messi was named after, could be having a conversation with LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, or Eva Longoria.

From Art Deco buildings and neon signs to flamingos and pastel coastlines, Beckham quickly realized how deeply the color pink echoes throughout Miami’s visual identity.

He eventually prevailed over the initial strong opposition that pink should be Inter Miami’s defining color.

Beckham contributed to the development of a “Miami” brand. The club is instantly identifiable thanks to its entirely pink identity.

Up until a week ago, Inter Miami had already won two titles, the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, going from being the champions in a year.

New stadium construction is on the horizon

Miami Freedom ParkGetty Images

Inter Miami will play most of the MLS campaign at Miami Freedom Park as their new stadium nears completion.

The club has played at Fort Lauderdale’s 21, 500-seat Chase Stadium since joining the league in 2020. Five away games will be played before the season is over to allow for the construction to be finished.

With the new stadium, the club could reach unprecedented heights: Asensi claims that after spending £160 million ($215 million) this season, “we are hoping to go over a quarter of a billion dollars” in income in the coming years.

Overall, Asensi describes it as a miracle. It’s a wonderful miracle because it’s dreamy and daring. We are extremely fortunate to be a part of the club, from the owners to everyone who works there.

related subjects

  • Major League Soccer in the United States
  • Football

More on this story.

    • 17 October
    A graphic of Premier League players from every team in the division in 2025-26 season, with the Premier League trophy in front of them.
    • August 16
    BBB Sport microphone and phone