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WEATHER maps have revealed where lightning has been striking Scotland over the past few days amid warnings of thunderstorms and heavy rain.

The UK was battered by lightning strikes yesterday with stormy weather striking various parts of Scotland.

MET Office

Met Office warns 70mph gales & ‘heavy pulses’ of rain to spark travel chaos TODAY as string of alerts hit.[/caption]

Met Office

Lightning strikes recorded between 1.05pm and 2.05pm on Thursday – each dot is one strike.[/caption]

The Met Office have issued a range of yellow weather warnings, coming into force on Friday morning across large parts of the country.

2,255 lightning strikes were recorded by The Met Office in the past 48 hours.

A detailed map -which can be found on their website – shows the exact locations each strike landed across the country.

The forecaster previously warned of heavy rain, and roaring 70mph winds, as they put three yellow warnings for wind in place, and two for rain.

Some weather warnings remain in place for Sunday, with a poor weekend of weather ahead.

In a post to X, the weather agency shared an interactive map detailing the forecast for the coming weekend.

It said: “Wet and windy to kick off Friday.

“Heavy pulses of rain will be accompanied by gales around coasts and hills.”

Ferry services from Dumfries and Galloway have already been cancelled with warnings of stormy weather in place.

Services between Cairnryan and Northern Ireland also failed to run on Friday.

A spokesperson said: “Those booked on to any of the affected sailings are advised not to travel to the area due to the impending weather warning and delays are expected.”

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “On Friday, south and west Wales, south-west Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland will see the strongest winds, possibly around 70mph on exposed coasts and around 60mph more widely within the warning areas.

“Rain is an additional hazard, with 30-40mm likely in parts of Scotland over a six-hour period, and up to around 70mm possible over higher ground within the warning areas.

“The underlying factor in the shift in the UK’s weather is our transition from a cold easterly regime to more of a westerly regime.

“While this pushes away the colder air that has been affecting us, it also reintroduces Atlantic weather systems and the potential for areas of low pressure to influence the UK’s weather.”

BRITISH actress Florence Pugh is poised to play Miss Moneypenny in a TV spin-off from Amazon’s takeover of the Bond franchise.

The show, titled The Moneypenny Diaries, is set to be the first of many dramas on boss Jeff Bezos’ Prime after the deal was struck this week, meaning Amazon has the creative rights to 007.

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It is likely to be based on the books of the same name, which are set in the Fifties and the Sixties — meaning it could be a prequel to the movies.

Florence, 29, joins a list of actresses who have played the role of the MI6 secretary.

Lois Maxwell played the character from 1962 to 1985, opposite Sean Connery, George Lazenby and Roger Moore.

Caroline Bliss starred as M’s secretary when Timothy Dalton was Bond and Samantha Bond was Moneypenny with Pierce Brosnan.

Naomie Harris was most recently the secretary in Daniel Craig’s films.

The Moneypenny Diaries are a trilogy of novels and two short stories, published from 2005 to 2008 by Samantha Weinberg under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook, providing a backstory for the character.

A TV insider said: “Depending on your point of view, having the story of such a loved character played by a top British actress is either a dream combination or a nightmare.

“Many Bond fans fear that the Amazon deal will lead to the brand being diluted down with spin-off stories and prequels which diminish the purity of the British icon.

“The films portrayed a distinct version of 007 inspired by the character created by Ian Fleming 70 years ago. But this drama will most likely be based on a series only penned over the last two decades.

“Even more worrying is the fact that they actually feature Bond himself, which raises the prospect of there being multiple actors playing 007 in different films and shows.”

Playing Moneypenny is a plum role for Florence, who has starred in films Oppenheimer, Dune Part Two and Don’t Worry Darling.

Although she has large shoes to fill, the Oxford-born actress is more British than the woman best known for playing the role, Lois Maxwell.

Lois, who appeared in the first 14 films, was born and raised in Canada but went to drama school in London where she met Roger Moore.

Amazon were approached for comment.

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Rex

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Alamy

A WOMAN has showed off her impressive haul from a mystery returns box, which she splashed out £80 on.

Vlogger Roxi Gibbs showed off the epic goodies inside, which included a stunning dupe for a £195 Marc Jacobs bag.

YouTube / @Roxxsaurus

Instagram / @roxxsaurus

The savvy shopper purchased the unseen box from an online website called Buyers Hub, and said she had “no idea what to expect.”

She posted a video of her unboxing to her Youtube account, @Roxxsaurus, where she regularly updates her 4.5 million subscribers on her life.

Inside the “ginormous” box, Roxi found loads of clothes and accessories – including a black oversized coat, multiple gymwear sets and a pair of faux suede knee-high boots.

But the real star of the show was an incredible dupe for a designer handbag – which the YouTuber said “looks so real.”

The Mini Tote dupe was black with white edging and the Marc Jacobs logo across the front.

Roxi squealed as she unwrapped the item, telling viewers: “No way! Are you kidding? It’s a tote bag, I love these!”

Holding the bag up to the camera and giving it a closer inspection, she said: “I really was not expecting a really decent item in here that I would actually like.

“Of course it’s not the real one but it looks so real to me so I am really happy with it.”

Checking the bag over for any signs of damage or reasons for its return, she said she could find “literally nothing wrong with it” and said she was “so pleased.”

The bag was an extremely convincing replica of a £195 tote by Marc Jacobs.

And although Roxi said she knew her dupe probably cost “maybe £10 or £15 at most” she was overjoyed with her find.

Debating whether her mystery box was worth the £80 she’d spent on it, Roxi said: “I have got to say comparing this TikTok mystery box in comparison to other places like Royal Mail or Amazon returns, this one was definitely way more, like, trendy and up my street.”

And despite not all the clothes being to her taste or in her size, she said she felt that the box had been “worth it” as she was sure she was going to get “lots of use” out of her new bag.

Users react

Viewers in the comments couldn’t believe her incredible find.

“Wow, I think you really lucked out in this box!” said one user.

“This haul was a total success,” agreed another.

“This was an amazing box, most of what you got was so good!” said somebody else.

“What a fantastic box! Everything looked great on you! Love the tote bag!” praised another person.

“The tote bag was cute!” someone else agreed.

HE has seen off Russian terror organisations, survived explosions, dodged 4,000 bullets and narrowly avoided having his privates lopped off with a laser beam.

But now James Bond faces his biggest threat to date — surviving Jeff Bezos’s franchise-crunching business colossus after his Amazon MGM Studios took “creative control” of the famous spy series.

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Sean Connery played Ian Fleming’s iconic spy in 1960-67, 1971 and again in 1983[/caption]

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Roger Moore played Bond from 1972 to 1985, pictured With Maud Adams, left, and Britt Ekland in 1974’s The Man With The Golden Gun[/caption]

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Timothy Dalton stepped into Bond’s shoes for two tours between 1986-1994[/caption]

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Barbara Broccoli and her stepbrother Michael G Wilson, the movies’ producers for the past 30 years, are stepping away from novelist Ian Fleming’s legendary franchise.

But many 007 fans fear for its future under Amazon — which they worry will dilute the franchise with a flood of poor-quality spin-offs and merchandise.

Their concern follows an alleged stand-off between Barbara and the global business giant — with an insider who has met Barbara multiple times suspecting the duo have now “cut their losses” because they “can’t work ­amicably” with Amazon.

They told The Sun: “Ultimately, it’s a bad day for Bond. The siblings have always been very protective of Bond’s image and would never have wanted it diluted or exploited like Amazon hopes to do.

Spin-offs

“This is absolutely terrible news. I don’t have high hopes. Amazon will want to exploit the name without putting in real quality, and the first thing to emerge will likely be a terrible TV series.”

And as we report on Page 3 today, there are already rumours of a spin-off for 007’s faithful secretary Moneypenny, starring Florence Pugh, along with possible projects for other big MI6 characters, an animated series and straight-to-streaming flicks.

Such is the esteem in which Bond is held that only one person could escort Her ­Majesty the Queen to the 2012 Olympics.

And threats to water down the legacy are likely to have grated with Barbara, 64, who insiders claimed had planned to “hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit”, reported the Wall Street Journal.

Tensions were first aired publicly in December, when it was reported that Barbara told pals that ­Amazon studio bosses were “f***ing idiots” and she was insulted by their description of Bond as “content”.

This could have rung the death knell for the partnership, which began in 2021 when Amazon bought MGM Studios for £6.7billion to acquire the rights for its crown jewel 007, alongside the Rocky, Legally Blonde and RoboCop films.

At the time, heads at the £1.8trillion online retail and streaming behemoth were confident they could win over Barbara and Michael and convince them to expand the 007 universe, inspired by Marvel’s masses of superhero flicks.

But cracks soon began to emerge in the partnership, with Michael, 83, allegedly complaining to pals about struggling to land meetings with anyone above Level Six — six floors below the Amazon chief.

Amazon disputed this, claiming he had met senior leaders. Then in November, while receiving an honorary Academy Award, Barbara notably thanked many people in her acceptance speech but did not mention Amazon.

She said Bond gave her “the greatest life imaginable” but also complained the film industry was “playing it safe” and during “times of crisis like this”, they needed “brave” film- makers.

But many fear a Bond rebranding will mean the end of the gun-toting, gadget-filled bonkbusters of the past and see the so-called “worst-case scenario” — a female Bond.

That was a major no-no for Barbara, who insisted 007 must be a man and saw casting him as being as serious as choosing a husband.

Perhaps in an ironic move and to spit in the face of the legendary producer, within hours of the announcement of the duo’s ­departure, Amazon boss Bezos ­flippantly posted: “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?”

And while Amazon has money to throw at projects, its track record with legendary franchises has been far from stellar.

Despite spending a reported $1billion on Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power — the most expensive TV series to date — it has been called “all spectacle, no substance”.

Only 37 per cent of Americans completed the first season, with fans labelling it “so bad it’s hilarious”, “God-tier garbage” and “crap that keeps getting worse”.

A similar fate befell the first Bond spin-off, the game show 007: Road To A Million, which has been compared to a “knockoff” version of BBC’s Race Across The World.

The audience reportedly plummeted in the first six minutes of the show and its host, Succession star Brian Cox. And Disney’s numerous Star Wars reboots have faced similar lukewarm reviews.

While Barbara and Michael will remain co-owners of the Bond franchise, it is unclear how heavily their presence will be felt in future projects.

Matthew Field, vice president of the Ian Fleming Foundation, said: “It would be stupid not to lean into them for advice.

“No one on the planet understands Bond better than them — they probably know him better than Ian Fleming did. If Amazon puts the wrong people in control it will go badly wrong.

“They need a producer like James Gunn, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC, who can see, live and breathe the character. It needs a new lease of life.”

Matthew predicts many TV projects ahead, including a period Bond, plus young, animated and spin-off Bonds following Moneypenny, M and Q, and straight-to-streaming Bond films alongside the “tentpole theatrical releases”.

Swedish mega-fan Gunnar James Bond Schafer, who legally changed his name to the character’s in 2007, said: “I’m ped off. This was Broccoli and Wilson’s child and you don’t sell your children or abandon them, even when things get tough.

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Sean Connery and Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger[/caption]

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Pierce Brosnan played the lead role from 1994 to 2004[/caption]

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Bond escorted Her ­Majesty the Queen to the 2012 Olympics[/caption]

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Bond’s iconic Aston Martin, complete with countless gadgets[/caption]

“Now the legacy risks being lost forever. I believe Amazon will cater to the US market now. They will probably cast an American Bond and won’t give a s*** about Europe.”

In a statement on Thursday, Barbara — whose father Albert “Cubby” ­Broccoli co-founded Bond production company Eon — described working on the franchise as an “honour” and said she would commit her time to “other projects”, hinting she is now leaving 007 in Amazon’s hands.

She added: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father.”

Daniel Craig, the most recent Bond, whose final film after five outings was No Time To Die in 2021, said his “respect, admiration and love” for ­Barbara and Michael “remains constant and undiminished”.

At last year’s Oscars, when Barbara and Michael won the Thalberg Memorial Award, one of the industry’s highest accolades and a crowning glory moment for them, Daniel praised them for standing their ground.

He spoke of admiring their “integrity in holding on to your singular vision”, despite many people and organisations trying to “put their own footprint on Bond”.

But now with Barbara and Michael no longer at the 007 helm, it is feared the legacy could be tarnished with a tsunami of feeble spin-offs, merchandise and even theme park attractions.

While Bond has overcome metal-toothed brutes, sex-strangling seductresses and hordes of henchmen, it may be billionaire Bezos who proves the villain that finally kills off Britain’s most famous fictional spy.

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Martini-drinking 007 was created in Ian Fleming novels[/caption]

MORE than half of us miss red flags which show a partner is financially struggling, a new poll has found.

The research, by Experian, found women are most likely to be victims of economically abusive behaviour with 4.1 million UK women experiencing it in the past year.

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We reveal eight signs which might mean your partner is flat broke[/caption]

“Money is deeply tied to power, trust and emotional security in a relationship,” explains chartered psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley.

“When financial issues are hidden or ignored, they can lead to secrecy, resentment or even financial abuse, which can be as damaging as any other form of control.

“You see, money isn’t just about paying the bills, it’s also a critical part of how we trust and care for each other.

“Honest and open communication about money, no matter how uncomfortable, creates space for solutions instead of secrecy. If you’re in trouble, ask for help.

“The longer financial stress is buried, the harder it becomes to untangle.”

Here, Louise reveals eight signs which might reveal your partner is flat broke.

THEY LIVE LIKE A POP STAR

IF your partner is always in designer clothes, booking luxury holidays, or eating at expensive restaurants but their salary doesn’t quite align with that lifestyle, it could be a sign they’re living beyond their means.

In one study, 40 per cent of respondents admitted to overspending in a bid to keep up with friends or maintain a certain image.

Overspending and reliance on credit can be ways of masking financial insecurity, and in some cases, it suggests they may already be in debt and trying to keep up appearances.

THEY PAY IN CASH

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If your partner prefers to pay in cash, they might be wanting to keep transactions off their bank statements[/caption]

WHEN financial stress sets in, people often look for ways to manage appearances while quietly navigating money troubles.

If your partner suddenly prefers to pay in cash, it might not be about convenience.

Instead, it could be an attempt to avoid the embarrassment of a declined card or to keep transactions off their bank statements.

It’s a technique used by 35 per cent of Brits when wanting to save cash.

THEY WANT TO GET COSY ON THE SOFA

IF they used to love a dinner out or weekend trip but now keep suggesting “a cosy night in” or “just going for a walk,” they might not just be prioritising quality time.

Brits typically spend £69 a month on going out.

Avoiding social spending can be a subtle way of covering up financial strain, especially if they’re reluctant to admit why they’re suddenly opting out.

THEY TURN ON THE ROMANCE

IF expensive gifts were once their favourite way to show they care, but now they’re showering you with handwritten letters, surprise breakfasts, or candlelit baths, it could be a sign they’re finding ways to express affection without spending money.

A huge 48 per cent of us cut back on gift-giving when facing financial hardship.

While thoughtful gestures are meaningful, a sudden shift could indicate a financial reality they’re not yet ready to share.

THEY ARE GLUED TO THEIR PHONE

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If your partner is always on his phone, they might be hiding overdue bills or debt reminders[/caption]

BUT not in the usual way. They may seem suddenly more protective of their phone, hastily swiping away notifications or intercepting a post before you can see it.

If you see this, they might be hiding overdue bills or debt reminders.

With the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later apps, like Klarna and Clearpay, more Brits are managing short-term borrowing through their phones.

Financial secrecy isn’t always about deception; again, it’s often driven by shame or the fear of being judged.

‘FREE’ IS THEIR LOVE LANGUAGE

A NEWFOUND enthusiasm for “free” might not just be a savvy shift. Instead, it could be a sign they’re being more strategic with money out of necessity.

If there is a change, so if they were once carefree with spending but now seize every cost-saving opportunity, such as a free gym membership of Netflix trial, it’s worth considering whether financial strain is at play.

According to one study, 18 per cent of those who have signed up to a free trial admit they did so because they were trying to save money or avoid spending altogether.

THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR ROUTINE

LAST month, they were picking up the bill without hesitation. Now, they’re meal-prepping religiously and insisting on walking instead of taking the bus.

A dramatic shift in spending patterns, especially if they won’t explain why, can be a sign they’re trying to regain control after realising their finances aren’t in great shape.

They’re not alone, as 57 per cent of Brits have made significant changes to their spending habits amid the cost of living crisis to save cash.

THEY SELL THEIR FAVOURITE FOOTBALL SHIRT

SELLING a few bits on Vinted is one thing, but if they are offloading gadgets, clothes or even sentimental items, like a watch gifted by their grandparents, or that signed football shirt they’ve cherished for years, it could be a sign they are struggling to stay afloat.

People don’t always talk about financial difficulties outright, but they do often leave clues in their behaviour.

Be especially wary if they suggest selling anything of yours.

• For more information about chartered psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley visit www.drlouisegc.co.uk

MODESTAS BUKAUSKAS has vowed that 2025 will be his breakthrough year in the UFC.

It’s been two years since the former Cage Warriors light-heavyweight champion made an emotional return to mixed martial arts‘ premier promotion.

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Modestas Bukausas has gone 3-1 in his second stint in the UFC[/caption]

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The Lithuanian-born Brit has 4-4 record in mixed martial arts’ top promotion[/caption]

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The 31-year-old is now hellbent on competing with the elite at light-heavyweight[/caption]

He made it back to the promised land 17 months after suffering a potentially career-threatening knee injury in his clash with Khalil Rountree Jr.

Bukuaskas’ second octagon stint has comprised of one defeat and three victories, the last of which was a submission triumph over Marcin Prachnio last July.

Barring defeat to Vitor Petrinho, ‘The Baltic Gladiator’ is happy with how things have gone in his second UFC run.

But he’s determined to up the ante this year, declaring in an exclusive interview with SunSport: “This is the year for me to make some noise.

“Personally, I feel like I’ve not made enough noise in the UFC.

“I’ve had some good wins and stuff, but I haven’t really had that performance to send shockwaves into the system.

“One of the goals written on my board is that it’s time to make some noise in the UFC and work towards that top 15 and get those fights and wins in the top 15.

“So realistically, [the goal] for this year is to make myself a stable house name in the top 15. And it all starts on Saturday.”

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Modestas Bukauskas suffered a horror knee injury in his clash with Khalil Rountree Jr[/caption]

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But he made a remarkable recovery and eventually returned to MMA’s top promotion[/caption]

He added: “I’m not just here to fill up the numbers. I’m here to make a statement. Like I say, just onwards and upwards.”

Ironically, Bukauskas feels better placed to make a run at the light-heavyweight division’s elite now than he did before several of his knee ligaments were ripped to shreds.

“It was definitely a roller coaster,” he said when recalling the long road back to the UFC. “Definitely a roller coaster.

“But I’m glad it went through it because it made me who I am today.

“And it’s made me unlock more of the powers of the ‘Baltic Gladiator’, that’s for sure.”

Bukuaskas’ hopes of cracking the top 15 starts with a Seattle showdown with Raffael Cerqueira, who will be champing at the bit to have his hand raised following defeat in his debut last October.

And he hopes to put himself in position to face the big names in the 205lbs division later this year with a standout performance.

“I’m always fighting for the finish,” Bukuaskas said. “I don’t just want to fight to win on points.

“Sometimes it goes that way, but I’m here to make the finish.

“So you can expect me to come out explosively, come out dangerously and come out there to get the finish.”

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Modestas Bukuaskas plans to steal the show at UFC Seattle on Saturday night[/caption]

AN incredible moment on One Question saw a pair of contestants win £100,000 following a huge gamble.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the Channel 4 quiz returned for its long-awaited second series earlier this month.

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Claudia Winkleman presents Channel 4 quiz One Question[/caption]

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Father-daughter team David and Emily competed in tonight’s episode[/caption]

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The pair scooped a life-changing £100k jackpot in emotional scenes[/caption]

Father and daughter David and Emily, from Chorley in Lancashire, competed in tonight’s episode.

One Question’s format sees contestants attempt to answer a single question for an eye-watering jackpot.

Contestants are usually given 16 possible answers – but David and Emily made a bold move.

They were asked “What is Smith?” – but believed they knew the correct answer before they’d seen all 16 options.

Claudia declared: “This has never happened before in One Question history.

“If you are right, you win £100,000…”

Although the father-daughter team seemed confident, it all became too much for presenter Claudia.

She exclaimed: “I can’t cope. I’m sorry I can’t leave. You are amazing.”

The Traitors host continued: “I’m sorry I don’t know why I want to cry, this is ridiculous…”, as she got up on her chair.

Incredible scenes saw their risk pay off – as the contestants scooped the huge jackpot.

Afterwards, Claudia praised Emily by saying: “That has never happened before.

“Your brain served you well. And you know what else did? Your Dad.

“He just sat next to you and said, ‘I’ve got your back. Go for it.’

“That’s life-changing money. That’s a lot of money. And you did that in under six minutes.”

She then joked: “What I need you to glean from this is you two need to play more quizzes.”

Meanwhile, David revealed he was feeling “fairly calm” after the huge win.

He added: “It’s not sank in. It hasn’t sank in at all yet. I’ll probably break down crying.”

David then burst into tears as daughter Emily wrapped her arms around him.

Visibly emotional, he then told how happy he was for his daughter.

Claudia said: “I’m happy for her, I’m happy for you. You can get more tattoos if you want.”

To which David replied: “I’ll hope to get shot of them!”

The pair’s triumphant victory follows Claudia previously hinting at a big win on One Question.

She teased: “Obviously I can’t give you any details, but I did cry.

“I don’t really cry because I’m over 50, wearing too much fake tan and too much eyeliner, but it was a proper moment.

“It was a proper moment for everyone in the studio and that’s when you know it’s good.”

One Question airs on Channel 4.

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David was overcome with emotion[/caption]

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Claudia had been visibly nervous over the pair’s huge gamble[/caption]

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy must be pretty excited with the early returns from their virtual golf league, the TGL (Tomorrow’s Golf League). The TGL ratings have been steady, and after a slow start building up the drama, the recent triple-header was wild. It left golf fans clamoring for more. Midway through the TGL season, […]

The post Tiger Woods to miss Jupiter Links’ TGL match with playoffs looming appeared first on ClutchPoints.

What started as an online prank has now turned into an amusing storyline featuring Daytona 500 champion William Byron and pop star Sabrina Carpenter. While it was initially just a joke, Byron is now fully embracing the buzz, even welcoming the idea of Carpenter attending a NASCAR event, per TMZ. A Social Media Prank Gone […]

The post NASCAR’s William Byron clears up Sabrina Carpenter debacle appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The National Hockey League stretch run is about to begin after the conclusion of a thrilling 4 Nations Face-Off — and the playoff-hopeful Columbus Blue Jackets are getting healthy at the perfect time. Both Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko were activated off injured reserve and will play against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, the […]

The post Blue Jackets get monumental updates on 2 top players appeared first on ClutchPoints.