Tag: Ireland

Royal County Down, Golfweek’s No. 1 international course, a welcome site for Amgen Irish Open

Professional golf and top-ranked courses don’t always coincide as well as this week at Royal County Down.

Truly great courses and professional golf rarely collide, but this week is a welcome exception.

Royal County Down’s Championship Links, site of the Amgen Irish Open beginning Thursday on the DP World Tour, has a rare distinction: it’s one of only two courses to be ranked No. 1 on one of Golfweek’s Best premium rankings of courses to have hosted an upper-level men’s tour event in decades. The layout in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, ranks No. 1 on Golfweek’s Best list of courses outside the U.S.

Royal County Down originally was designed as a nine-hole layout by George L. Baillie in 1889. Nine more holes were laid down among the sandy dunes as designed by none other than Old Tom Morris over the following years. The course has evolved over the decades with contributions by George Combe, Harry Colt and Donald Steel, among others making suggestions.

The ninth green at Royal County Down in the lead-up to Amgen Irish Open 2024 in Newcastle, Northern Ireland (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Royal County Down has hosted a slew of top-level events including three previous Irish Opens, most recently in 2015. It also has been the site of various British Amateur Championships, Senior British Opens, a Curtis Cup, a Walker Cup, the British Ladies Amateur six times, and the European Ladies’ Team Championship.

Not counting our wide-ranging state-by-state rankings of public and private courses, the only other No. 1 on one of our premium lists to host a top-tier event has been Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, site of  six U.S. Opens, one PGA Championship, one U.S. Women’s Open and multiple U.S. Amateurs and U.S. Women’s Amateurs. Also the annual host of the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the famed layout is No. 1 on Golfweek’s Best ranking of resort courses in the U.S.

By comparison, the private Cypress Point in California took over the No. 1 spot this year on Golfweek’s Best ranking of classic courses built before 1960 in the U.S., but the PGA Tour hasn’t been back since 1990. Before Cypress Point took over the top spot this year, Pine Valley in New Jersey had enjoyed a long run in the No. 1 spot, but that private stalwart never has hosted a PGA Tour event. That leaves Augusta National, ranked No. 3 among American classics and home to the Masters, as the highest-ranked classic course in the U.S. to have hosted a top-level men’s event in recent memory.

Among modern courses built since 1960 in the U.S., none of the top seven layouts have hosted a PGA Tour event. The Straits Course at Kohler’s Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, tied for No. 8 on that list, is the highest-ranked modern course to have welcomed top-level men’s events, including three PGA Championships, a U.S. Senior Open and a Ryder Cup.

Saints are keeping Charlie Smyth on the practice squad

Well that’s a relief. Irish kicker Charlie Smyth has cleared waivers, and has returned to the Saints’ practice squad:

The New Orleans Saints were able to retain one of their own high-priority practice squad players, after waiving Charlie Smyth he has cleared waivers and been signed to the Saints practice squad, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. This comes after the Saints kept second-year kicker Blake Grupe and waived Smyth, presumably in hopes that he would clear waivers and they could retain him long-term.

Smyth did not have a significant chance to play in the preseason, missing time due to a minor injury later on but also losing most reps due to Grupe getting the first look. His most notable moment however was his first NFL kick, which was a 37-yard game-winner in the first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. It was a big moment for the rookie kicker from Ireland, who the Saints are retaining with an International Player Pathway roster exemption.

He has been routinely hitting 60-plus yard field goals in training camp according to multiple reporters, including a 65 yarder in their practice at Yulman Stadium (which may have been good from further distance, by the looks of it). It will be nice to have depth at the kicker position, in the event that Grupe begins to struggle, there are options to be had this time.

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Saints waive rookie kicker Charlie Smyth, an International Player Pathway standout

The Saints have waived rookie kicker Charlie Smyth, ending the battle with Blake Grupe — for now. The International Player Pathway program standout could return:

The New Orleans Saints kicker battle has come to a close for now, with rookie Charlie Smyth being sent to waivers per Nola.com’s Luke Johnson, and confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett. This is an intriguing one, as it clearly indicates Blake Grupe winning the starting kicking spot at this point in time, and subjects Smyth to waivers even as an IPP player. But the rookie from  Ireland could still return.

If Smyth were to make it through waivers, he would most likely end up on the practice squad for the Saints, and in the event of Grupe struggling at some point, could be utilized. However, his making it through waivers is no guarantee, as other teams will have seen his game-winner against the Arizona Cardinals, as well as his potential with a strong leg, and consider making the move if they need a kicker.

This unfortunately leaves the Saints in somewhat of a limbo, as they have to sit and wait to see if he will clear waivers before doing anything to get him back, but regardless, hopefully he will end up back with the Saints.

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WATCH: Supercut of Charlie Smyth’s first year of field goal tries

It’s a year to the day since Charlie Smyth kicked his first football. Now he’s booting 65 yards for the Saints. Here’s a look at his progress from his trainer:

It’s been a full calendar year since Charlie Smyth kicked his first American football. Now the New Orleans Saints’ rookie kicker is booting field goals from 65 yards and pushing for a job at training camp. That’s impressive no matter how you slice it.

Here’s a look at Smyth’s progress from his trainer, starting with his first try in Northern Ireland back in Aug. 2023 and running up through his training in South Florida to preseason game-winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals this preseason.

Can Smyth win the job? Maybe so. But there’s more to kicking in the NFL than hitting long-distance field goals. Saints coach Dennis Allen has said he wants to see more consistency from Smyth at moderate ranges inside 50 yards, where the team is more likely to try field goals anyway, as well as on kickoffs. But Smyth has clearly put in a ton of work. If he can finish strong this preseason he just might push Blake Grupe aside just like he displaced Wil Lutz last summer.

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Charlie Smyth struck while the iron was hot in Saints preseason opener

Charlie Smyth struck while the iron was hot in the Saints’ preseason opener. The rookie kicker came through in the clutch:

What a way to start your career in American football. Not just the NFL — when Charlie Smyth took the field on Saturday night to attempt a 37-yard field goal for the win, he did so on his first kick in the American game. The rookie from Northern Ireland joined the New Orleans Saints through the NFL’s International Player Program this offseason, and he’s been turning heads all summer.

That included during pregame warmups. Smyth booted two tries from distances of 60-plus yards, then watched Blake Grupe go to work for three quarters. When his turn finally came, it was in the game’s final seconds, with the Saints trailing by a single point. And his coaches had full confidence in him in that moment.

“We would’ve kicked it from, I don’t know, sixty. You know? Depending on how much time was left in the game and whether I thought the down and distance was, what we thought the percentages was. So it’s a little bit of a hypothetical,” Allen mused in his postgame press conference.

At about the same time, the Irish rock band U2’s hit single “With You or Without You” could be heard echoing from the celebratory Saints locker room, per Nola.com’s Luke Johnson. Allen continued: “But I felt good about him hitting the distance. Wasn’t worried about that at all. And I thought that was awesome. First kick in not an NFL game a football game, in an American football game. For him to knock it through like that in a pressure situation, that was cool to see.”

That’s not to say Smyth has won the job just yet. He needs to keep up the good work and harness the power in his leg (he pushed a few warmup kicks wide to the right, as has happened at training camp practices) and improve his placement on kickoffs. He’s sent too many of those out of the field of play. But he may just need more experience. You don’t see many players with his raw talent. His status in the IPP has bought some time to better learn the sport, but Smyth just might end up pushing the envelope.

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Report: Wisconsin reschedules its 2027 post-Ireland nonconference contest

Report: Wisconsin reschedules its 2027 post-Ireland nonconference contest

Wisconsin football has reportedly rescheduled its 2027 nonconference contest against Southern Illinois, moving the game back one week to Sept. 11.

The bye week was added with the team scheduled to open the 2027 season against Pittsburgh on Aug. 28 in Dublin, Ireland.

Related: Wisconsin football’s full Big Ten and nonconference schedule for 2024-2031

Wisconsin’s 2027 schedule consists of nonconference contests against Pittsburgh, Southern Illinois and Colorado State; home Big Ten matchups against Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State and UCLA; and road Big Ten games at Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota and USC.

This report indicates the Badgers will get an extra bye week coming home from Ireland before beginning what is sure to be a challenging schedule.

Wisconsin’s future schedules through 2031 include the year-in, year-out test of the new Big Ten landscape, plus several challenging nonconference series. Those are highlighted by matchups against Alabama in 2024 and 2025, Notre Dame in 2026, Pittsburgh in 2027, Utah in 2028 and 2033, California in 2029 and 2030 and Virginia Tech in 2031 and 2032.

First will come a 2024 season that sees the Badgers face one of the toughest schedules in the country. If you sense the overall trend, the landscape only gets more challenging entering 2024 and beyond.

Wisconsin’s 2027 opener against Pittsburgh in Ireland is sure to create a popular trip for Badgers fans. It appears the team will get a much-needed week off upon its return.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

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Portugal vs. Ireland: How to watch international friendly, TV channel, live stream

A Seleção plays its final warm-up match before Euro 2024 kicks off

Portugal will face Ireland on Tuesday as A Seleção plays its final warm-up match before Euro 2024 kicks off.

Roberto Martinez’s men will be among the favorites at the tournament in Germany, having won all 10 of their qualification matches in Group J.

They started a run of three friendlies with a 4-2 victory over Finland last week, before falling 2-1 to Croatia over the weekend.

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Portugal will face the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia in Group F at Euro 2024, with its first match on June 18 against the Czechs.

Ireland, which fell short of qualifying for Euro 2024, began this international window with a 2-1 win over Hungary last week. The Boys in Green are preparing to kick off Nations League play in September.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Portugal vs. Ireland (international friendly)

  • When: Tuesday, June 11
  • Where: Estádio Municipal de Aveiro (Aveiro, Portugal)
  • Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: FS2 (Watch FREE on Fubo), ViX (Watch on Prime Video)

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Photos: Jameson Golf Links at Portmarnock Resort in Ireland completes extensive renovation

Check out the photos of the seaside course at Portmarnock Resort in Ireland.

Portmarnock Resort in Ireland has completed a two-year renovation project to its golf course, which has been rebranded Jameson Golf Links.

Originally designed by Bernhard Langer and opened in 1995, the layout is 20 minutes away from the center of Dublin. Prior to completion of the renovation, the course ranked No. 45 on Golfweek’s Best list of top modern layouts in Great Britain and Ireland.

The final piece of the renovation puzzle was completion of the new 17th hole, which had been a par 3 but has been converted to a short par 4 playing 355 yards to a tabletop green with all new bunkering.

Jameson Golf Links Portmarnock Resort
The new No. 17 of Jameson Golf Links at Portmarnock Resort in Ireland (Courtesy of Portmanock Resort)

Most of the work focused on the back nine. Both Nos. 12 and 14 were converted from par 4s to now play as par 5s, and the formerly par-5 13th is now a par 4.  The 15th was converted from a par 4 to a par 3. Before making the turn, the par-4 eighth hole was straightened to accommodate an expansion of the course’s irrigation lake. The course now plays to a par of 72 at 7,266 off the back tees, which is about 100 yards longer than before the renovation.

The renovation of Jameson Golf Links was led by Jeff Lynch, the director and senior architect of (re)GOLF, a design firm with a presence in the British Isles, continental Europe and North America.

“We were thrilled to be selected to consult with Northland Properties and the team at Portmarnock Resort and Jameson Golf Links,” Lynch said in a media release announcing completion of the project. “The layout here was already considered to be a fair challenge for most golfers – our aim was to enhance the link between the guest and the coastal experience.

“We endeavored to augment this natural connection at certain intervals throughout the course whilst complementing, if not adding, to the strategy of the layout. I believe we have delivered a handcrafted landscape for the golfer and the environment that all involved can be proud of.”

Formerly known as Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links, the course is part of the full-service Portmarnock Resort, which was acquired by Sandman Hotel Group in 2019. The seaside resort has also been the recipient of large renovations and upgrades.

“The feedback we are receiving from members and visiting guests about the changes made to the links over the past year or so has been fantastic,” director of golf Paul McCanny said in the media release. “Jeff Lynch and (re)GOLF Design, DAR Golf, Aquaturf Solutions and our own Jameson Golf Links maintenance team have delivered work of the highest quality.

“The aim was to make the most of our spectacular dunescape whilst heightening the golfing experience. We believe Jameson Golf Links is now one of the best links golf experiences in Ireland.”

Check out photos of the renovated course below.

McClean says Ireland coach disrespected him after Wrexham move

The Wrexham star said his international coach “couldn’t get off the phone quick enough”

James McClean has hit out at former Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, saying his “disrespectful” response to his move to Wrexham led directly to his international retirement.

McClean signed with Wrexham prior to the current season, joining the League Two outfit after a season in which he was named Wigan Athletic’s player of the year.

There were some eyebrows raised after McClean’s decision, as he dropped down two divisions after a standout campaign in the Championship.

At the time, McClean was an active Ireland international but as he revealed in an interview with the Irish Examiner, the reaction from Kenny led to his international retirement in October.

“He couldn’t get off the phone quick enough,” McClean said of Kenny. “That spoke of what he thought about the move. I don’t think he was on board. Ultimately, I would say that was a major factor in my decision to step away from Ireland. Sometimes when you make a decision, you are made to walk the plank. I felt that if I don’t walk away now, I may never get the opportunity to say goodbye on my terms.

“I thought it was very disrespectful. I had offers to stay in the Championship but at my age I wanted to do something that would excite and be a challenge. Wrexham had a project and it’s a successful one. Nobody forced me to make the move but I’m glad I did and there’s a sense of justification.”

The 34-year-old has been a fixture for Wrexham this season, as the Red Dragons clinched promotion to League One with a win over Forest Green Rovers over the weekend.

The Irish federation confirmed in November that it would not be renewing Kenny’s contract after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2024.

With McClean’s former Ireland teammate John O’Shea now coaching the team, he did leave open the possibility of an international return.

“It’s not something I’ll be campaigning for but if the call ever comes to play for your country, it’s a hard one to turn down,” McClean said.

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Irish kicker Charlie Smyth to work out for the Saints

The Saints will work out Irish kicker Charlie Smyth this week. He could be good competition for Blake Grupe:

The NFL’s International Pathway Program might be coming to New Orleans. The Saints will work out Irish kicker Charlie Smyth later this week, per NFL Ireland’s Michael McQuaid. Smyth, 22, is a native of Mayobridge in Northern Ireland, where he’s played Gaelic football as a goalkeeper.

Smyth tried out at the NFL Scouting Combine in February and made 12 of his 16 field goal tries. He also participated at South Florida’s pro day with other international prospects, where he impressed by going 8-for-10 with his longest kick hitting from 60 yards. Now he’ll have an opportunity to show the Saints what he can do at a private workout.

He could be good competition for Blake Grupe. The rookie wasn’t good enough last season while going 28-for-35 with misses from 29, 29, 46, 47, 51, 52 and 54 yards. The Saints need to bring in some competition for Grupe, and Smyth might be an attractive option. The Irishman is expected to sign with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent, and the Saints can lay the groundwork for recruiting him at meetings like this upcoming private workout.

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