Kurt Kitayama wins 3M Open as Seamus Power fades
The Waterford native had a mixed round with five birdies and four bogeys to shoot 70, his highest round of the week. It left him on 13 under par, 10 off Kitayama.
One off the top after shooting 60 on Saturday, Kitayama managed 65, with eight birdies and just two bogeys, moving to 23 under.
That was one clear of fellow American Sam Stevens, who shot a second consecutive 66 to finish in outright second place.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Why multi-club ownership is causing problems in soccer
By James Callan and Mark Hyland, TU Dublin A few weeks ago, Crystal Palace were bumped from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League. This was not because they finished lower in the table or lost a playoff, but because of multi-club ownership rules. American businessman John Textor and Eagle Football's interest in both Palace and Olympique Lyonnais meant only one of the clubs could enter the Europa League, with the French side's higher league position edging out Palace. Textor has since sold his shares in Palace to New York Jets' owner Woody Johnson. It feels deeply unfair: Palace had done everything right on the pitch, yet still lost out due to shared ownership rules. It is reminiscent of when Chelsea bought French side Strasbourg. At first, it felt like a clever bit of business, but it begs the questions what happens when both clubs reach Europe? Who steps aside? Who gets favoured? And what does that say about where the game is going? Welcome to the world of multi-club ownership, a quiet, confusing force reshaping soccer's future. From RTÉ 2fm's Game On, have Crystal Palace brought the magic back to English soccer by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for Europe? What Is multi-club ownership? Multi-club ownership is when one person or company owns several clubs, often across different countries and, increasingly, within the same competition. In 2012, there fewer than 40 clubs in Europe in this position. By 2023, there were over 230 such clubs. Some of football's biggest names are now part of global networks. Manchester City belongs to the City Football Group, alongside Girona and others. Red Bull owns RB Leipzig and Salzburg. Chelsea's new owners BlueCo have added Strasbourg to their growing portfolio. It's smart business. Clubs can share scouting, staff, even players. But football isn't just business – and this is where the problems begin. What happens when business clashes with matches? Things get messy when these commonly owned clubs start competing against each other. UEFA's "Integrity Rule" exists to prevent this and states that two clubs under the same control can't participate in the same European competition. But enforcement in practice is challenging and patchy. From RTÉ Sport, how Euro expulsion could affect Drogheda United Chelsea and Strasbourg's situation is a perfect example. If both qualify for Europe, one might be forced to drop out That's not speculation; it's the UEFA's rulebook. That's a bitter pill to swallow for Chelsa fans who want to celebrate qualification and not worry if a legal technicality and smart business practices could knock your team out before a ball is kicked. It's not just happening in the big leagues. Drogheda United in Ireland had to clarify its ownership structure after concerns emerged about shared control with Danish club Silkeborg IF which resulted in their expulsion from UEFA competitions for the year. The uncertainty around eligibility casts a shadow over their European hopes too Smaller clubs, bigger costs One of the most uncomfortable consequences of multi-club ownership is what it means for smaller clubs. For many fans, their team is no longer a local institution but a pawn in someone else's corporate strategy. Smaller clubs often become "feeder teams", grooming players for the main club. The best talents don't stay long. They're sold up the chain. It's hard not to feel like the soul of the club is being drained for someone else's gain. From the Financial Times Scoreboard, the rise of the multi-club ownership model in soccer Even the transfer market is impacted. Internal transfers within multi-club groups can inflate player valuations and allow owners to move money creatively, potentially skirting financial fair play rules. The playing field isn't just tilted anymore. It's being redrawn behind closed doors. Can the rules keep up? UEFA's Integrity Rule was born from a 2000 court case, but it hasn't aged well. A good example of inconsistent enforcement is the case of Manchester City and Girona, Both are under the City Football Group umbrella, yet they've managed to compete in Europe without issue, while clubs like Crystal Palace could be punished. As a fan, that feels deeply unfair. The core problem is vagueness. What counts as control? A majority shareholding? A seat on the board? There's room to manoeuvre, and plenty of powerful owners are appear willing to do just that. From RTÉ Sport's Soccer Podcast, Keith Treacy, Richie Towell and Louth-based journalist Barry Landy join Raf Diallo to discuss Drogheda's explusion from the UEFA Conference League over multi-club ownership rules Soccer has always had financial imbalances, but multi-club ownership takes it to another level. This isn't just wealth, it's consolidation. A few groups now control dozens of clubs. We risk losing the magic, that belief that any team can beat the odds. Fans want to cheer for a club, not a corporate logo. What needs to change? To protect the game, several responses must be considered. Including: A three-club cap per ownership group; Only one club per ownership group per UEFA competition tier; Clear definitions of control; Transparency in transfers; Independent oversight. There's a quote in football that pundits and fans alike keep coming back to: "The game belongs to the people." If that's the case, fans need a voice when it comes to this corporate ball game. Because without them, football is just another asset. With Palace's appeal against UEFA's decision to demote them from the Europa League due to be heard this week at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, their supporters will soon know if their team will compete in the Europa League or the Conference League next season. All fans await the court's decision with great interest.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
PGA Tour star reveals magical gift Rory McIlroy wore for good luck every day before Masters win
McIlroy was gifted the good luck charm by a former Prime Minister LUCK OF THE IRISH PGA Tour star reveals magical gift Rory McIlroy wore for good luck every day before Masters win RORY MCILROY was wearing an ancient and sacred stone around his neck for good luck in the build-up to his Masters glory. McIlroy, 36, finally completed his career Grand Slam in April with victory at Augusta, bringing an 11-year wait for the elusive Green Jacket to an end. Advertisement 2 Rory McIlroy wore a good luck charm every day before his Masters victory in April Credit: Sportsfile 2 Ryan Fox revealed the good luck charm after he was gifted it on a golf trip to New Zealand Credit: Getty But it was something else green that helped him achieve that career high. The Northern Irishman was sporting a pounamu necklace around his neck every day when he drove up Magnolia Lane. The precious green stone, which is revered by Maori and New Zealanders, was gifted to him by former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key while on a social golf trip to the country's Tara Iti course last December. Fellow PGA Tour pro and New Zealand native, Ryan Fox, was along on that golf trip too and told the media about McIlroy's good luck charm for the Masters. Advertisement READ MORE IN GOLF A NEW PAIGE Paige Spiranac lifts lid on failed marriage and says 'I'm so vulnerable' He said this week: "Yeah, when we played last year at Tara Iti, he was gifted a pounamu by John Key. "Rors kind of said to me the first time I saw him after Augusta, and I'd just won Myrtle Beach [Classic], as well, 'John had gifted me that and I felt like it was good luck. I wore it down Magnolia Lane every day.' "John actually texted me a photo of him in a golf cart with Rory wearing his pounamu, which was really cool.' He added: "[Key] explains what it means a lot better than what I can, but it's a mark of prestige. We call it 'mana' [spiritual power and charisma]. Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "It was a pretty cool thing for John to do and obviously it meant a lot to Rory. It was a nice little story that he had a little bit of Kiwi on him when he was at Augusta.' McIlroy seems to have an affinity to things down under and, according to Fox, has committed to heading to Australia for the Australian Open this winter. Baffled Rory McIlroy hits TWO balls with ONE shot in incredible never-seen-before incident at The Open He added: "Yeah, obviously Rory seems to love our part of the world, he had a great time at Tara Iti last year, and I know he's keen to go back at some point if he can during his busy schedule. Advertisement "But it's great to have a little piece of New Zealand [the pounamu] that he loved. 'I've already talked to him about coming down to play the Aussie Open and he can't be more excited about playing Royal Melbourne in a tournament, so that's pretty cool.'
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
US college football game in Dublin expected to generate €130m for Irish economy
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic game between Kansas and Iowa State University will be held on Saturday, August 23, and has been described as the most competitive to take place on Irish soil. It is expecting to bring in 24,000 international visitors, mostly from the US. Grant Thornton's figures show three previous games held in Ireland brought €382m into the economy. The 2025 game will bring that figure up to €512m, it said. The game – which is expecting to attract viewership figures of 4.5 million when broadcast live on ESPN – is described as a high-profile opportunity to promote Irish culture by the Government. Tourism Minister Peter Burke said it will boost Ireland's tourism profile. 'Not only will the event generate significant revenue in August, the extensive coverage of the game in the USA will also put Ireland's vibrant tourism offering in the shop window for those planning a trip in the future,' he said. This series also delivers trade, tourism, business, community engagement and economic benefits A week-long run of business and political events are scheduled to take place, including an Irish-US CEO Club, where up to 450 senior executives will attend. In previous years, golf resorts around the country were among the big winners, as groups of visiting fans opted to extend their stays well beyond the day of the game. The match and the associated events are being supported by Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Enterprise Ireland as part of a strategy to leverage international sporting events. 'The series has strongly positioned Ireland as a key overseas home for American football in Europe. Importantly, this series also delivers trade, tourism, business, community engagement and economic benefits,' junior culture minister Charlie McConalogue said. The title sponsor, Aer Lingus, says it is a valuable opportunity to increase transatlantic relations. 'The classic is a special event that celebrates sport, tradition, and transatlantic connection. We're proud to play a role in making these moments possible – connecting people, places, and possibilities through the power of sport,' Aer Lingus chief customer officer Susanne Carberry said.
