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SHANE Lowry’s calls to outlaw AimPoint putting have found support from fellow pros in recent months.

The debate over its impact on the pace of play continues to stir up strong opinions across the golf world just one week removed from the season’s opening major at Augusta National.

Lowry first took aim at the method last year during an interview with golf journalist Daniel Rapaport, saying if he could change one rule, “AimPoint” would be it.

When asked to elaborate, he said: “You’re not allowed to straddle in the line.”

AimPoint, a green-reading method that helps players gauge slopes and break by “feeling” the green with their feet, is regularly used by top names including Keegan Bradley, Max Homa and Collin Morikawa.

But Lowry, Lucas Glover and others have voiced growing frustration, pointing to its role in slowing down rounds.

Lucas Glover, speaking on his SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio show earlier this year, took things a step further.

2009 US Open winner said: “Statistically, [AimPoint] hasn’t helped anybody make more putts since its inception on the PGA Tour.

“It’s also kind of rude to be up near the hole, stomping around figuring out where the break is in your feet. It needs to be banned. It takes forever.”

Jason Day joined the critics too as he spoke out against the Mark Sweeney’s AimPoint system.

Speaking to Dan Rappaport, the Aussie said: “I’m not an anti-AimPoint guy.

“The only thing that I don’t like is that when it’s your putt, they’re in there reading theirs.”

Calls for action have grown louder following complaints about sluggish play at recent events, including the Farmers Insurance Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Rory McIlroy labelled the pace at last year’s Masters ‘horrific’, and it wasn’t much better a year prior when Jon Rahm won at Augusta National.

And just last weekend, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler could only laugh as the AimPoint debate took a theatrical turn during the Houston Open.

Min Woo Lee poked fun at the method by adopting an exaggerated stance before calmly rolling in a putt to win the tournament.

Cameras showed the reigning Masters winner laugh from the locker room as the Australia had a cheeky dig at the system.

Women in the James Bond franchise have been a topic of conversation for many years now. Be it a gender swap for the aforementioned character or simply the way that female characters are treated in the franchise, fans have many thoughts on the subject. Although the representation has gotten better, the conversation persists with a […]

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DREAM TEAM managers have until 11am on Saturday morning to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 30.

In terms of strategy, it’s all eyes on the European quarter-final first legs with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea set to play again after the weekend’s Premier League action.

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Naturally, these double headers are the focus of this week’s transfer recommendations.

Just to clarify, we consider Bruno Fernandes (£7m), the game’s most in-form player, firmly in the camp of: blindingly obvious.

Bukayo Saka (£6.6m)

In a week that featured several popular assets suffer ill-timed injuries, Dream Team bosses were boosted by the return of Arsenal’s No7.

Saka marked his comeback with a goal against Fulham to underline his credentials.

Only Mohamed Salah (£7.7m) averages more points-per-game than the England winger in 2024/25.

Mikel Arteta will be delighted to have his star player back ahead of a trip to Everton and Real Madrid’s visit to the Emirates.

Saka’s ownership has already increased to nigh on 20%.

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Saka marked his return with a goal[/caption]

Marcus Rashford (£3.7m)

It’s a good time to back Unai Emery’s troops amid an unmatched succession of double Gameweeks.

No fewer than nine Villa assets notched double-digit hauls in Gameweek 29 but Ollie Watkins (£5.2m) was not among them; far from it in fact as he mustered just one point from two substitute appearances.

Instead it was Rashford who led the line against Preston and Brighton and boy did he capitalise.

The 27 year-old loanee bagged a brace in the FA Cup and then got on the scoresheet again during his side’s win over the Seagulls in midweek for a 29-point return in total.

Barring something extraordinary at Stamford Bridge this evening, he will finish as Gameweek 29’s top performer.

Villa’s Gameweek 30 is far from favourable with high-flying Nottingham Forest to come before a daunting meeting with PSG in the Champions League but Rashford has form on his side.

A word for Marco Asensio (£4.1m) who has now scored EIGHT goals since his loan switch despite having started just four times for Villa.

The Spaniard’s minutes are a slight concern but his impressive average of 8.2 points-per-game is the headline right now.

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Dominic Solanke (£4m)

This suggestion comes with the caveat that Spurs are due to face Chelsea this evening and so the outlook may change depending on how things play out in West London.

Ange Postecoglou’s side are the only team with the luxury of two home fixtures this coming Gameweek and that includes one against relegation-bound Southampton.

Frankfurt are expected to provide stiffer competition next Thursday but it’s an appealing double header nonetheless.

Son Heung-min (£4.6m) is currently the second-most popular recruit ahead of Saturday’s deadline on account of him being Spurs’ top points scorer.

However, it’s worth noting the South Korean superstar has played just 275 minutes across his last five outings at an average of 55 minutes per appearance.

In contrast, Solanke has completed the full 90 minutes three times in a row since his return to the starting line-up after injury.

Son may pack more of a punch (he’s first-choice penalty taker too) but the England striker seems to be far more immune to Postecoglou’s rotation.

It’s worth remembering that for all Spurs’ problems this season, they have scored plenty of goals across all competitions.

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Solanke has scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists this season[/caption]

Djed Spence (£3.2m)

It’s a similar story in defence.

Pedro Porro (£4.5m) is by far and away the top performer in his position among his team-mates with a mighty 223 points but, like Son, his minutes have decreased lately – he didn’t feature at all against Fulham last time out.

Whereas Spence’s form has seen him play every minute of the last four games.

This shuffle in the pecking order is interesting as the 24-year-old currently features in just 0.8% of teams, making him a huge differential option.

Spence ranks fifth in his position for bonus points this season despite the fact he hardly featured at all during the first four months of the campaign.

He is certainly capable of a satisfying double-digit haul if given the nod against Saints and Frankfurt.

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A PAY rise might seem like a dream for many of us right now, but some lucky workers saw their salaries jump by tens of thousands of pounds last year.

New data shared with The Sun shows a number of job roles received hefty pay rises last year, with some salaries going up by a whopping 81% between 2024 and 2025.

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Some workers saw their pay jump by over 80 per cent[/caption]

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Salaries rose in 2024 as a result of high inflation and living costs[/caption]

Wages have been on the up over the past few years as workers grappled with high inflation, which has hiked the cost of living.

Salaries rose significantly in 2024, with typical wage growth hitting 5.9% in December last year, up from 5.6% the previous month.

For many, getting a pay rise can be difficult as employers face economic challenges and rising costs.

But data provided by Totaljobs found some jobs have seen much better pay rises than others.

The workers who saw the highest wage increase last year were “intervention tutors”, teachers who typically work with children with behavioural issues.

Their salaries typically went up a whopping 81.39% between 2024 and 2025, going from £26,697 to £48,425 – a rise of £21,728.

Next in line for the largest pay rises were barristers, who received pay rises of over £16,000 last year, with average salaries climbing from £33,644 to £50,098 – a 48% increase.

Personal private assistants, who sometimes don’t need specific qualifications, saw their salaries jump 40% from an average of £50,000 in 2024 to £70,000 this year.

And GPs, hotel managers and stock condition surveyors all saw their pay jump between 30% and 40% over the past year, too.

GPs took home a typical salary of £44,841 in 2024, but saw their typical salaries jump by 35% to £60,750 in 2025.

Meanwhile, hotel managers received an extra £16,500 in their pay packets this year, with salaries leaping from £47,000 on average to £63,500.

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GPs took home a typical salary of £44,841 in 2024 but saw their pay jump by 35% in 2025[/caption]

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Barristers also had a pay increase of over £16,000[/caption]

Salary warning

While the past year saw some huge salary leaps, experts warn increases are likely to be more modest this year as employers face rising costs such as increases to National Insurance contributions (NICs).

The rate of employer NICs (secondary Class 1 NICs) will increase from 13.8% to 15% this month.

An Incomes Data Research (IDR) survey found employers are likely to raise salaries by an average of just 3% to 3.99% in 2025, which is considerably lower than last year.

In total, four fifths of respondents said pay rises will be lower this year.

Most employers attributed this to the increase in NICs but inflation was the next most common factor.

So, if you’re hoping for a hefty pay rise, it could be worth switching careers, “job hopping” or asking your boss for a raise directly, experts say.

Michelle Pearce-Burke, co-founder of finance app Wealthify, said: “Being strategic about switching up your career at the right time can be great for boosting your earning power if you’re savvy.”

How to negotiate a pay rise this year

According to business expert Dr Cheryl Hurst, it’s important to know your worth and have a clear goal if you’re looking to negotiate a pay rise.

“Come into the meeting with a strong understanding of the current market and your place within it,” she advised.

“Do research about people with your skillset, qualifications, education, and experience in the same or similar industry.”

She said it’s important to stick to your guns and aim higher than you would actually accept so there is room for negotiation.

“Have a firm idea of what you’re asking for and be prepared to say it, and aim high so there’s room to lower it if necessary,” she said.

“This gives you and your boss a definitive guide based on realistic expectations and a well thought-out request.”

And finally, it’s a good idea to get people on your side before going in all guns blazing, she said.

“Build a solid team of mentors and role models who advocate for you. Having more senior team members who promote your work is a vital component to not only salary increases but job satisfaction and growth.”

SHOPPERS are racing to get their hands on a YSL perfume dupe that costs £114 less than a major fashion chain.

Zara is renowned for its affordable dupes, and now there’s another to add to the list.

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Yves St Laurent

Zara is now flogging a dupe of YSL’s Black Opium.

Gardenia is selling for £15.99 per 90ml bottle, Zara’s website shows.

Meanwhile, Black Opium markets for £130 per 90ml bottle, its website exhibits.

Zara describes Gardenia eau de parfum as “captivating”, offering a “white floral fragrance”.

Orange blossom, coffee notes, peach and raspberry make up this silky scent.

Meanwhile, Black Opium, the original Eau de Parfum features black coffee and vanilla making for a “captivating floral gourmand scent”.

YSL describes its perfume as: “Addictive, unparalleled in provocation, deliberately seductive.”

More Zara perfume dupes: Red Vanilla

Selling for £15.99 is Zara’s Red Vanilla Perfume.

Described online as a “spicy fragrance” with “floral and sweet notes” this perfume radiates iris and red peony flowers.

Combined with this are “juicy notes of tangerine” and a “hint of raspberry”, fussed with a “note of vanilla”.

Meanwhile, Lancome’s La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum sells for £127 per 100ml bottle.

Lancome describe this product as: “A fragrance with a powerful trail, with a perfect balance between the nobility of Iris, the depth of Patchouli, and an alluring Vanilla accord, creating the perfect scent of happiness.”

Ebony Wood

The next Zara dupe, shared with us by Latest Deals, is the Ebony Wood scent.

It sells for £29.99 per 100ml bottle.

Zara describes the perfume as “woody” with notes of grapefruit, cypress and pink pepper, blended with coffee and a patchouli base.

This perfume is said to be the dupe of Jo Malone’s Wood Sage and Sea Salt Eau de Cologne Spay.

Its currently selling for £105 per 100ml bottle, as displayed on allbeauty’s website.

This perfume offers a sharp top note of Ambrette Seeds, followed by refreshing Sea Salt.

It is described as “fresh” and “vibrant”.

Cherry Smoothie

The fourth Zara dupe is Zara’s Cherry Smoothie.

It sells for £12.99 per 30ml bottle.

Cherry and plum notes are enhanced by the “freshness” of almond in this bottle, combined with vanilla and tonka bean.

Some may notice its similarity with Tom Ford‘s Lost Cherry Eau de Parfum.

LookFantastic describes it as: “An opulent fragrance centred around notes of sour cherry, plum and cedar.”

It currently sells for a whopping £153 per 30ml bottle.

Red Temptation

Finally, Zara’s fifth dupe.

Red Zara Temptation is the brands bestseller.

It is described as “a luminous and addictive creation”.

Saffron and orange blossom meets jasmine with a touch of praline to add to its sweetness.

Meanwhile amber and musk creates a “sophisticated memorable trail”.

This scent sells for £22.99 per 80ml bottle.

It has been compared with the iconic Baccarat Rouge 540 that sells for a jawdropping £245 per 70ml bottle.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Baccarat describe this perfume as “bright and sleek”.

It combines “breezy jasmine facets”, “radiant saffron”, “ambergris mineral notes” and “woody tones of freshly-cut cedar.”

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DEPARTING Match of the Day host Gary Lineker is set for a shock appearance at Glastonbury Festival this summer.

The annual music festival will take place in June, featuring headline acts including The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, and Neil Young.

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Paul Tonge - The Sun

But appearing among the world-famous musicians and comedians will be the former Leicester and England striker turned pundit.

He is set to leave his hosting role at Match of the Day come the end of this season after 25 years in the job, but will soon return to the limelight as part of the ‘Silver Hayes’ programme.

Silver Hayes is an area of Glastonbury which generally plays host to dance music, but Lineker will appear on ‘The Information’ stage.

It is described by Glastonbury’s website as “a space for discussion, debate, and understanding on today’s current affairs and cultural issues,” under the slogan “optimism is a political act.”

Also speaking are former Lionesses Jill Scott and Carly Telford, who is now a commercial manager at Chelsea Women’s FC.

Dulwich Hamlet player Lucy Monkman will contribute a DJ set.

The Information is a self-described “dedicated space for discussion and debate… with a diverse programme of speakers, activists and political figures.”

The subject of Lineker’s talk is yet to be officially confirmed.

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The Information’s day-by-day timetable is yet to be announced.

Lineker recently told FourFourTwo magazine that he does not expect to work with the BBC after leaving Match of the Day.

He has committed to appearing on The Assembly, an ITV show launched last year which will see celebrities grilled by a cast of interviewers with autism, neurodiversities, and learning disabilities.

His focus, though, will likely land on his Goalhanger Podcasts network, which includes flagship show The Rest is Football and other popular shows including The Rest is Politics and The Rest is History.

DUBLIN GAA once “made an attempt” to hire Mick O’Dwyer as manager – with Des Cahill joking it “would have been some craic in Kerry”.

O’Dwyer sadly passed away on Thursday at the age of 88, prompting innumerable tributes and tales from his iconic career.

Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE

Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

The Waterville man won eight All-Ireland titles at the helm of Kerry, to go with four that he won as a player.

His managerial tenure with the Kingdom featured a fierce rivalry with Dublin, who were led by Kevin Heffernan.

Yet the rivalry seemingly didn’t prevent then-chairman John Bailey from devising a plot to bring O’Dwyer to the Capital.

This was revealed by Des Cahill on Morning Ireland, with the RTE broadcaster going so far as to suggest Micko would have accepted it.

He said: “There was an attempt made and he would have taken it.

“John Bailey, the late John Bailey, was chairman of Dublin.

“A very close friend of Micko was a friend of John Bailey’s and that was the route they were going.

“I won’t name the other man in case he wants to tell his side of the story.

“It certainly was discussed.

“Can you imagine Micko with the Dubs? It would have been some craic in Kerry.”

The prospect of Mick O’Dwyer patrolling the sideline in a Dublin bib will go down as one of those ‘what if’ moments.

Especially as his legacy extends beyond Kerry – having had celebrated spells at Kildare, Laois, and Wicklow.

He led the Lilywhites to Leinster titles on two occasions – the first of which, in 1998, ending a 42-year drought for provincial honours.

He went on to win Leinster for Laois, before guiding Wicklow to a Tommy Murphy Cup and the last-12 of the All-Ireland series during his five-year tenure.

Cahill said: “When he left Kerry, look at the joy Kildare people and Laois people and Wicklow people got from his role with them.

“He brought them success that they hadn’t been used to.

“He made players feel taller when he went into those counties and told them why wont we win this and they believed him.

“He was quite an extraordinary man and one of the most fantastic people I have come across in my career in sport.”

Bruce Willis turned down the lead role in Ghost, opposite his wife Demi Moore, because he didn't understand how the story could play out.