Rain puts dampener on Gather Round despite AFL’s hype and schmoozing | Jonathan Horn

Gather Round began with lavish lunches, intriguing matchups and a South Australian premier who lobbied for it, nurtured it and who very much now owns it. Politically, culturally and geographically, South Australia remains an excellent fit. But it always feels like the footy industry is on one big sell for the week, and this year’s version didn’t quite reach the heights of the previous three.A lot of that was due to the weather, which was atrocious at times. With two mismatches earlier on Sunday, Gather Round was crying out for a decent match to close things out

The Masters 2026: McIlroy retains title after thrilling final round – as it happened

Ewan Murray’s final verdict has landed, so that’s the cue to wind down this live blog. Congratulations to the two-time Masters champion Rory McIlroy, commiserations to Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose and Cameron Young, who ran him so close; and thanks to you for sticking with us over the four days. See you again next month for the PGA Championship. In the meantime, here’s how the top of that Leader Board looks after four days of drama that will live long in the memory.-12: Rory McIlroy -11: Scottie Scheffler -10: Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose, Cameron Young -9: Collin Morikawa, Sam Burns -8: Max Homa, Xander Schauffele -7: Jake Knapp -5: Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day -4: Viktor Hovland, Maverick McNealy, Matt Fitzpatrick -3: Keegan Bradley, Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark -2: Matt McCarty, Adam Scott, Samuel Stevens, Chris Gotterup, Michael Brennan, Brian Campbell -1: Alex Noren, Harris English, Shane LowryIn his Butler Cabin interview, Rory picked his tee shot at 12 as perhaps the most important of the final round

Rory McIlroy ignores Jack Nicklaus’s advice and tames the deadly 12th at Augusta | Andy Bull

There’s hot, and then there’s the back nine on Sunday at Augusta when there are five players within two shots of the lead. The TV weathermen reckoned it was 30C but then they weren’t down at Amen Corner when Rory McIlroy was standing on the tee at Augusta National’s 12th hole, that little rinky-dink 155-yard par three, tied for the lead and waiting for the wind to drop long enough that he could get his shot off. Four days ago, they asked Tom Watson what was the one change he’d make to this golf course if he could. Watson didn’t blink. “I’d fill in that creek in front of No 12

Rory McIlroy holds nerve to be the Master again as rivals succumb to tension

You are left wondering how on earth Augusta National managed to inflict such psychological torture on Rory McIlroy for all those years. Or maybe that is precisely the point, that ­McIlroy’s ending of his Masters hoodoo in 2025 placed him into a fresh head space where failure is not an option. It turns out Green Jackets are like London buses. Back in Augusta, where he became only the sixth man in history to complete a career grand slam, McIlroy entered the record books once more. He is now the fourth golfer to successfully defend the Masters, after Jack ­Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods

‘This is not serious leadership’: Donald Trump and Marco Rubio watch UFC in Miami as Iran talks fail

Donald Trump and US secretary of state Marco Rubio attended a UFC event in Miami night on Saturday night as peace talks with Iran failed on the other side of the world.Trump entered the Kaseya Center shortly after 9pm alongside several members of his family and UFC chief Dana White, who has been a supporter of the president since his first term. Seated nearby was Rubio as well as the US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, the rapper Vanilla Ice and former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino.“The Secretary of State skipped the Iran negotiations in Pakistan to attend a UFC fight. So did the Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, while Pakistan has no confirmed U

County cricket: Craig Overton completes game to remember by finishing off Essex – as it happened

Somerset notched up 21 points at Chelmsford, thrashing Essex by 10 wickets. Craig Overton, in his vast Somerset sweater, added a couple of batters and a catch to his century on Saturday, a stand-in captaincy performance to remember. Essex inched a lead of just 47 and Archie Vaughan, Somerset’s second injury substitute, made a bid for a permanent spot by punching the majority of the runs himself, twice plonking Simon Harmer over midwicket for six.A zinger of a catch by Matthew Potts sealed an innings victory for Durham at Bristol. Gloucestershire spent the day bailing out the bath with a teaspoon, but sank after tea