The five-mile-long coral island - twice the size of London's Heathrow Airport - is in the north of the Persian Gulf, 16 miles (26km) from Iran's coast and roughly 300 miles (483km) north of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway through which 20% of global oil flows, that Tehran has shut down. President Trump said US forces "obliterated" military targets on Kharg Island, but significantly said he chose not to "wipe out" the island's oil infrastructure. He threatened that this could change if Iran interfered with the safe passage of ships through the strait. Iran latest - follow live updates Tehran warned of a new level of retaliation if the oil infrastructure on Kharg was damaged, vowing on Saturday that Iranian forces would destroy the oil and gas infrastructure of companies cooperating with the US in the region if its sites were targeted, according to Iranian state media. But why is the island so important? Why was no oil infrastructure hit? Kharg is the export terminal for 90% of Iran's oil shipments and has the capacity to load around seven million barrels a day. The island can handle as many as 10 supertankers at the same time, as its waters are deep enough to enable the docking of tankers that are too large to approach mainland Iran's shallow coastal waters. Before the war, the island handled most of Iran's roughly 1.7 million barrels of crude exports per day, with the majority of it going to China. Iranian oil accounts for 11.6% ​of China's seaborne imports so far in 2026, according to tanker tracker Kpler. "Therefore, if [Mr Trump] was to take that out, he might risk the ire of China," Sky News' military analyst Sean Bell said. Hitting Kharg's oil infrastructure would also likely lead to oil prices surging even further, after they hit a four-year high on Friday. Oil exports continuing despite war In the week before the war broke out, Kharg shipped a record of 3.79 million barrels per day, and operations on the island have continued despite the conflict. About 13.7 million barrels of oil have been exported from the island since the US-Israeli strikes were launched on 28 February, at a rate of 1.1 million to 1.5 million barrels per day, according to maritime intelligence company TankerTrackers.com and Kpler data. Multiple tankers were still loading there on Wednesday, according to satellite pictures from Tanker Trackers. Kharg has storage tanks in the south, along with housing for thousands of workers. It has a storage capacity of roughly 30 million barrels, and held about 18 million barrels of crude as of early March, ⁠according to ​a JP Morgan report citing Kpler data. Critical to funding of Iranian government The island has long been seen as a key vulnerability that would provoke a severe response by Tehran if attacked. Kharg is critical to funding Iran's government and military, and if Iran were to lose control of the island, it would be difficult for the country to function, according to Petras Katinas, an energy researcher at the Royal United Services Institute. Mr Katinas said a takeover would give the US leverage over negotiations with Iran because the island is "the main node" of its economy. While there has been speculation that the US could be tempted to seize Kharg Island, experts say that would almost certainly require troops on the ground, making it extremely risky. One Iranian politician has reportedly already threatened US troops with capture if they attempt to seize its crucial oil hub. JP Morgan's global commodity research team stressed the wider economic implications of a direct strike on the island, warning before the US struck military targets on Kharg that strikes would "immediately halt the bulk of Iran's crude exports, likely triggering severe retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz or against regional energy infrastructure". "You take out ​Kharg infrastructure, then you take two million [barrels per day] out of the market for good - not until the Straits get fixed," added Dan Pickering, chief investment officer for Pickering Energy Partners. Damage to the island Iranian state media reported that no oil infrastructure was damaged in the US strikes, adding that air defences, a naval base, airport control tower, and a helicopter hangar were targeted. The US "successfully struck" more than 90 military targets, including naval mine storage facilities and missile storage bunkers, the US Central Command said. The 55 crude oil storage tanks, which can hold more than 34 million barrels, are "most likely unscathed", Tanker Trackers said. "Although the island has some offshore oil production, the bulk of the oil actually derives from the mainland via multiple pipelines," the tracking service said. "The island first began exporting oil during the summer of 1960 and was built to [accommodate] 7 million barrels per day in exports, to reflect the potential in oil production. Iran hit 6.6 [million barrels per day] in production back in 1976." Read more:Trump's post reveals much about island strikeUS Navy to escort oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz The maritime intelligence company added that satellite imagery from Saturday showed two new tankers began loading 2.7 million barrels of crude oil there. Activities on the island, including exports and imports, are "proceeding normally" after the strikes, the deputy governor of Bushehr, a port city close to Kharg, said, adding that no military personnel, oil company employees or island residents were killed. Was the island targeted before? Despite being viewed as a critical vulnerability, the island has rarely been directly targeted. The last time was during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, but it did not stop crude oil exports from Kharg. "When Saddam Hussein raided the island numerous times 40 years ago and destroyed a number of storage tanks, Kharg Island was still able to export over 1.5 million barrels per day," Tanker Trackers said in a post on X.

The big honours started with a Critics Choice award in January. A Golden Globe followed, then a BAFTA, and most recently, a statuette at the Actor Awards. Buckley is the only acting nominee to take home all four this year, and she has picked up other smaller awards, too. The Oscar, it seems, is hers to lose. Latest updates - The Oscars Gold Derby, the LA based authority when it comes to awards predictions, rates her chance of winning at an almost unbeatable 97%. "It's really been a crazy award season, it's been pretty unprecedented," says Debra Birnbaum, the site's editor-in-chief. But Buckley, she says, "is a sure thing... a pretty safe bet". If Buckley does win, she will make history - the first Irish actress ever to take home the award. The 36-year-old is being recognised for her portrayal of Agnes, the wife of Shakespeare in Chloe Zhao's Hamnet. The film chronicles the couple's grief following the death of their young son, and puts the bard, played by Paul Mescal, in the backseat as Agnes's story takes centre stage. Buckley's raw, emotive performance has moved audiences to tears. In a sea of A-list Oscar nominees, including two-time winner Emma Stone, critics have singled her out as "one of the finest actresses of her generation". "To be in a room with all those incredible artists, that, for me, is the greatest thing," Buckley told Sky News last month, speaking about her awards and nominations. "That and being a mom." The actress gave birth to her first child, a girl, last year, and she has paid tribute to her in her speeches so far. "I'd like to share this with my daughter," she said of her BAFTA. "I promise to continue to be disobedient so that you can belong to a world in all your mad, complex wildness as a young woman." This is Buckley's second Oscar nomination; her first was for best supporting actress, for her performance in The Lost Daughter, starring Olivia Colman, in 2022. She has also starred in other Oscar-nominated films, such as Women Talking, alongside Rooney Mara and Claire Foy, and Judy, opposite Renee Zellweger, and won several awards for her leading performance in the West End revival of Cabaret. But she has been quietly honing her talents since she was young, growing up in Killarney, Co Kerry. Her rise to fame came when she was a teenager, appearing on the BBC reality show I'd Do Anything, which sought to find an unknown lead to play Nancy in the West End revival of the musical Oliver!, in 2008. Buckley came second, but continued to pursue her love for the stage and screen. She went on to appear in series including Taboo and The Last Post, before breakout roles in British films Beast and Wild Rose, and the critically acclaimed HBO/ Sky series Chernobyl. Back in 2019, when Wild Rose was released, Buckley said she grew up without a TV at home until she was "about eight or nine", and that her first experience of wanting to act was watching a "Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland film... it was like my mind had been exploded into kind of like magic". Now, not only has she reached the highest accolades for her achievements on screen, but she is also a Mercury Prize nominee, too - shortlisted in 2022 for her collaborative album For All Our Days That Tear The Heart, with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. 'You couldn't take your eyes off her' For those who knew her at the Ursuline Secondary School, in Co Tipperary, her success has come as no surprise. Music teacher Joan Butler, who joined the school in 2006, Buckley's final year, says it was clear she would go on to big things. "We're so proud of all our students here, but Jessie stood out… even as she began along her career path, as being somebody with a very special talent," she says. "She was in a production of West Side Story in my first year teaching… Spellbinding is the word we use here as we've been talking about her and remembering her time here. "You couldn't take your eyes off Jessie on the stage or when she was singing or even at the piano. It's a star quality that is very, very rare. I can still remember I was playing violin in the pit orchestra, looking up the stage... the whole room just stopped, mouths open, watching this rehearsal. And I remember turning to some of the students and going, watch her girls, she's going to win an Oscar one day." Now, Buckley could very well achieve that dream. After seeing the actress tackling such physically and emotionally demanding scenes during the filming of Hamnet, her cast and crewmates say it has been incredible to see her hard work and talent recognised. Hamnet set decorator Alice Felton, who is also up for an Oscar herself, nominated in the production design category, says they have "all been in tears" watching Buckley receive her awards. "Because we watched her throughout filming give her heart and soul to that," she says. "We'd be crying at the edge of set before the music was laid in, before everything was done. "She's a beautiful person. She gave everything to that role and she's part of the team. She used to sleep in the bed in the attic [in their house in the film]. So I'd go up to redress the set and she'd be tucked up having a little nap. She just lived in the spaces and we're all so happy for her." Irish stars show support in LA In Los Angeles in the days leading up to the Oscars ceremony each year, the US-Ireland Alliance hosts the Oscar Wilde Awards, celebrating Irish talent. They have had a lot to toast in recent years, including nine nominations for The Banshees Of Inisherin (starring another former Ursuline pupil, Kerry Condon) in 2023. And in 2024, Cillian Murphy became the first Irish star to win best actor, for his performance in Oppenheimer. Read more:Warner Bros looks set for Oscars success amid takeover plansOne Battle After Another is 'devastatingly timely'Oscars - iconic looks that broke the rules This year, Buckley is the person everyone is talking about. Gleeson, who starred alongside her in the animated Christmas special The Scarecrows' Wedding, told Sky News: "We're already celebrating Jessie Buckley. "She is an absolutely amazing actor. She's so incredible in the film and I'll be delighted, delighted if she wins. But we celebrate her all the time." Singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy also highlighted Buckley's musical talents. "I think people are largely unaware of how great a singer she is," he said. "She's just an incredibly talented person, so we're very excited for her." And speaking at the premiere of the Peaky Blinders film earlier this month, Murphy himself showed his support. "She's incredible," he told Sky News. "I'm just so happy for her, she's unbelievable in that film." For the young students at Ursuline hoping to follow in Buckley's footsteps, the actress is an inspiration. "We are so excited to see everything that will come after this as well," Ms Butler says. "Thank you so much to her for everything that she has done in inspiring our students and showing them what can be possible."

It follows calls from rural Labour MPs who have warned of constituents living in fuel poverty, unable to heat their homes, restock their supply, or afford the soaring price. "It might be a small proportion for the country overall, but where there are big clusters of people using heating oil, this is a big issue," Labour MP Terry Jermy told Sky News. The South West Norfolk MP said he has spent the week warning ministers: "I've got people literally turning off their heating because their tank has run empty. "If we're not careful and if we don't act, this could be a public health issue. We've got elderly, vulnerable people literally not able to put their heating on, in some cases not able to cook their food. The government doesn't have a choice, we've got to act." Beyond help for oil customers, Rachel Reeves is holding off on anything else for now. Along with officials, she hopes time will ease the conflict in the Gulf and, with that, the impact on costs here. It's a defiant stance, and a gamble she hopes will pay off. Read more:What the Iran war could mean for your billsWhat can be done to protect shipping from Iran? Opposition parties continue to pile on the pressure over what comes after the current price cap on energy bills ends in June and fuel duty goes up in September. Politically for Labour, it's terrible timing. Ministers felt their '£150 off energy bills' was a tangible example of efforts to ease the cost of living and put more money in people's pockets. From April, typical gas and electricity bills will see a cut as a result of changes announced by the chancellor in last November's budget. By scrapping some green levies and shifting others onto general taxation, Labour says this will see the typical bill fall by about £150. Ofgem says this will be more like £117, as the cost of running and maintaining the network has increased. But Reeves is nevertheless committed to fiscal discipline, determined not to resort to an eye-wateringly expensive package of universal support like we saw in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A package she doesn't criticise, in an interview with The Times, but makes clear it's one we are still paying for. In that same interview, she highlights that the government now has the benefit of better data. So any more financial support could be means-tested if it's needed in the future. It's a big 'if', but a potentially very expensive one, even if the support is more targeted. Labour has to spend the coming weeks weighing up its options. Not just the financial cost, but the political too. For a government that made its priorities economic growth and higher living standards, it faces an unforgiving electorate if at the next election there's no sign of either - even if it's down to events beyond its control.

After beating England, Wales, and now Scotland, Ireland have picked up a fourth Triple Crown in the last five years. The victory also means they will spend their evening supporting England in their match against France which concludes this year's tournament. Six Nations 'Super Saturday': As it happened!Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contractChoose the Sky Sports push notifications you want An England win would be enough for Ireland to clinch the Championship thanks to their Dublin victory, secured with a bonus point. If England and France were to draw, with Les Blues also scoring four or more tries for a bonus point, that would be enough for France to take the title thanks to their superior points difference. Scotland's wait for a Six Nations title, meanwhile, continues into 2027, with their last coming in 1999 under the old format. They also continue their wait for a win in Dublin having now lost 12 in a row. They will finish this year's Six Nations in third regardless of the rest of the results. Ireland had a 19-7 lead at half-time after a breathless opening 20 minutes, converted tries from Jamie Osborne and Dan Sheehan plus a diving effort from Robert Baloucoune getting their points on the board. Scotland had hit back through a Darcy Graham try, which Finn Russell converted, but they had work to do in the second half to keep their hopes of making history alive. The visitors added tries through Russell and Rory Darge, the former converting both, but Ireland matched them and then some to seal an emphatic victory. Darragh Murray on debut picked up the bonus-point effort for his side before Jack Crowley added a penalty and Tommy O'Brien went in twice, the second with just 20 seconds remaining, to send the Aviva into pandemonium. How Ireland remained in title hunt There was always going to be urgency to this Triple Crown-deciding fixture, and that was evident in the relentless start to the match as the sides treated spectators to four tries in a blistering 20-minute period. Osborne picked up the quickest try of Ireland's 2026 campaign in the third minute from an inventive lineout call, the full-back running a great line that sent him in under the sticks. Crowley converted for a 7-0 lead. It was not long before Scotland hit back, and after putting 19 phases together the visitors finally got their reward by sending a looping pass out wide to Graham, Russell converting to level things at 7-7. It was clear that both sides were going for the four-try bonus point, and the scores just kept coming, Sheehan the next to go over off the back of a classic Irish maul from the lineout. Crowley added the extras once again as they moved 14-7 ahead inside 10 minutes. An audacious finish from Baloucoune helped extend Ireland's lead in the 20th minute. Off the back of the scrum, some quick thinking and lovely hands helped the home outfit whip it out wide, and the winger backed his pace to dive in at the corner. This time Crowley could not add the conversion. After an opening 20 minutes that was all about scoring, the second 20 was a war of attrition. Ireland were clearly the side on top, especially in the breakdown, but Scotland's defence stood firm enough to keep them out. Ireland had not lost on any of the last 30 occasions when leading at half-time at home in the Six Nations, and they made that 31 thanks to some brilliant attack and stellar defence. The key for Scotland in the second half was whether they could cut out their errors and breach a resolute Ireland defence - and the second of these, they did manage to do. After a sustained period of pressure for 10 minutes, reward came as a Ben White wonder-pass saw Russell use his strength to go over and convert his own effort to bring the score to 19-14, the kick helping him pass 500 points in internationals in the process. Four minutes later, though, Ireland secured the bonus point as debutant Murray battled over after a string of phases. Crowley came through with the conversion again to move his side 26-14 ahead. That did not deter a fighting Scotland, and with Kyle Steyn surging forward, a series of short passes allowed Darge to spring through and penetrate Ireland's defence once again. Russell sent the conversion over which brought the score to 26-21 and set up an enticing final 20 minutes. After nine minutes of both teams searching for their moment, Bundee Aki came up with a big run which provided the basis for Ireland to put together some intricate passing which ended with O'Brien racing through to touch down for their fifth try on 69 minutes. Crowley was accurate with the boot again to restore his side's 12-point advantage and put them 33-21 ahead with 10 minutes remaining. Ireland opted to take the sting out of the game in the 73rd minute by opting to kick a penalty, Crowley obliging once again to extend their advantage to 15 points. Then, in the dying seconds of the contest, O'Brien found space out wide and used his speed to put the cherry on top of a huge win with his second. With the last play of Ireland's Six Nations 2026, Crowley made it five out of six with the boot for the 43-21 win. Now, Ireland have to wait and hope England pull off a monumental win over France so they can experience Six Nations glory for the first time since 2024. Doris: It is a rare day where we will cheer England Ireland captain Caelan Doris, speaking to ITV Sport: "We asked for a big performance from some of our senior players, our big-match players, and they stood up. Tadhg Beirne was unbelievable. "We saw what Scotland's attack was capable of last week [against France] and we knew it was going to come again. "It came in waves but there were big moments to keep them out. "It is a rare day to be cheering on England. We feel we have done what we can control." Ireland coach Andy Farrell, speaking to ITV Sport: "I have just seen Darragh Murray hug his parents and that sums up the day for me. The performance is one thing, the manner is another. "There have been a lot of firsts for us - first caps, people playing in the Six Nations for the first time, playing on Super Saturday when it counts. "This will make us more resilient in the long run. The experienced players have passed on what it means to be an international player. "I thought our bench was immense." Townsend: We have pride and we have regret Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, speaking to ITV Sport: "The second half showed much more of what we can do. "We needed to be physical and we definitely applied a lot of press. Ireland were very good in their attack today. "It was a missed opportunity. We didn't play our best game but it is hard to do that. No team has done that for more than two or three games. "There is [pride and regret] but the players threw everything on the line for their country. "We have a competitive game that can put teams under pressure. We need to deliver that every game we play."

Officers were called to an address on Horseferry Road, Westminster, at roughly 7.30am on Saturday. The baby girl, 18 days old, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead in hospital, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. A 43-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene and taken into police custody, where she remains. Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the Met's investigation, said the force "believes the incident occurred within a domestic context". She said in a statement: "Our thoughts today are with the baby's family. The death of an infant is always an extremely tragic occurrence, and officers are making urgent enquiries around the circumstances." Anybody with information is urged to come forward. Running from Lambeth Bridge to Greycoat Place, Horseferry Road is a major thoroughfare in Westminster. The street is home to government buildings, including the Department for Transport's offices, as well as Channel 4's headquarters and multiple residential addresses.

It's about one thing only: Fashion. The world's most famous catwalk, it has the power to take a celebrity's style moment and elevate it into historical popular culture. So, as we get ready for the 2026 Academy Awards on Sunday, we're celebrating the red-carpet risk-takers and most memorable Oscar looks over the years.

Phil Woolas was MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth from 1997 until 2010 and held several ministerial posts under Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. But his political career ended in controversy and disgrace when a court ruled he had broken electoral law by deliberately making false statements about his Liberal Democrat opponent. His TV clash with national treasure Ms Lumley came when she led opposition to proposals by Brown's government in 2009 to restrict the rights of retired Gurkhas to settle in the UK. At the time, he was a combative immigration minister in the Home Office and Ms Lumley was spearheading the Gurkhas Justice Campaign fighting Woolas's plans. With Labour rebels joining Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs, the government suffered a humiliating defeat on the proposals in the Commons. Then, after an original confrontation inside a TV studio in Westminster, the pair agreed to hold a joint news conference, which descended into chaos. Broadcast live on Sky News and other channels, the actress appeared to persuade Woolas to accept that the Gurkhas' lawyers would draw up new guidelines. And after dramatic scenes, Ms Lumley declared: "I have met Mr Woolas now and I am reassured again. Because I know we are going to assist Mr Woolas in making the strongest guidelines possible." It was the defining moment of a life in politics that began when Woolas joined the Labour party at 16 and was president of the National Union of Students from 1984 to 1986. Paying tribute, Sir Tony Blair said: "Phil was an outstanding member of the New Labour government, a greatly respected and admired colleague, and a source of both humour and rich political insight to all lucky enough to know him. "I remember and deeply appreciate his support to me over the years, through the good times and the bad. "My deepest condolences to the wonderful Tracey and to their sons, Josh and Jed, and all their wider family." Defence Secretary John Healey, a close friend, told Sky News: "During the '80s and '90s many helped lay the foundations for New Labour, defeating the hard left and modernising the student movement, trade unions, media, Labour Party and Parliamentary Labour Party. "No-one played a significant role in all these areas - except Phil. "He was a highly regarded ministerial operator with friends across the political divide, despite being a fiercely loyal Labour man all his life." After a short career as a TV producer, he became head of communications for the GMB union and masterminded one of the most high-profile stunts ever staged by a trade union. In 1996, protesting against a 75% pay rise to £475,000 a year for British Gas boss Cedric Brown, the union took a live pig called Cedric to the firm's AGM to highlight "snouts in the trough". After unsuccessfully fighting the Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election in 1995, he was elected in the 1997 Blair landslide and after a spell as a parliamentary bag-carrier began his ministerial career in 2003. He was deputy Commons leader and a local government minister under Blair, then under Brown he became an environment minister and then immigration minister in 2008. But throughout his career he was outspoken and often controversial and in 2010, after he held his seat by just 103 votes, he was served with an election petition by Lib Dem opponent Elwyn Watkins. He lost the subsequent court case - in an election court that was the first of its kind for 99 years - and the judge ordered a re-run of the election. The court ruled that Woolas knew statements he made about Watkins during the campaign were untrue and he was therefore guilty of illegal practices under election law. A bitter Woolas said after the ruling: "Those who stand for election and participate in the democratic process must be prepared to have their political conduct and motives subjected to searching, scrutiny and inquiry. "They must accept that their political character and conduct will be attacked." But Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman announced his suspension from the party and said: "It is not part of Labour politics to try to win elections by saying things that are not true." Read more from Sky News: Bombs and bravado: Trump's post reveals much about island strikeDriver who partied after killing teenage friends in crash sentenced After the controversial end to his career in parliament, Woolas formed a lobbying company with a former Conservative MP, Sir Sydney Chapman, and a former Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Keetch, both of whom later died. He leaves a widow, Tracey Jane Allen, an events organiser and former co-director of a lobbying company. They met in 1982 through their activities in student politics and married in 1988. They had two sons, Josh and Jed, and their first grandchild was born on 20 January, less than two months before Woolas's death. He is also survived by his mother and older brother. Mr Healey added: "Phil was a passionate Manchester United season ticket holder, wine connoisseur, fisherman, raconteur with a photographic memory and warm and engaging personality. "But he didn't suffer fools and was a principled fighter driven by the need to make a real change to society. His commitment to the Labour Party never wavered over 50 years, through many challenges."

Åberg equalled the lowest front-nine score in tournament history as he raced to the turn in 29, with the Swede continuing to push forward during a sensational second-round 63 on Friday afternoon. The two-time PGA Tour winner carded two eagles, six birdies and a lone bogey to post the lowest round of the day and move to 12 under, two clear of Xander Schauffele, with Cam Young a further shot back in third ahead of Corey Conners and Justin Thomas. The Players LIVE! Latest news, updates, highlightsWhen is The Players on Sky Sports? Key TV timesGot Sky? Watch the PGA Tour on the Sky Sports app 📱Not got Sky? Stream golf and more with no contract 📺 Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are seven off the pace as they both look to become the first Englishman to win The Players, while Scheffler and McIlroy both needed final-hole birdies to guarantee their weekend spots. Defending champion McIlroy - coming into the week without a practice round due to a back injury - needed the late birdie to salvage a one-under 71 and move to one over, with Scheffler on the same total after salvaging a one-over 73 and securing a 70th consecutive PGA Tour cut. How Åberg jumped into halfway lead Åberg posted a bogey-free 69 on the opening day before accelerating forward in benign conditions in his second round, following a close-range birdie at the first by rolling a 15-foot eagle at the par-five second and holing from 10-feet at the third. He converted from off the green to birdie the par-four fourth and move five under for his round, then ended a run of pars by chipping in from just off the ninth green to jump to 10 under. Åberg looked set to threaten Tom Hoge's course-record 62 when a two-putt birdie at the 11th put him eight under for the day, only for him to miss a seven-foot birdie chance at the next and take two shots of thick rough on his way to a bogey at the 15th. The world No 21 recovered from carding his first dropped shot of the week and dropping back alongside Schauffele by tapping in for birdie the par-five 16th, with a closing birdie securing the fifth 36-hole lead of his PGA Tour career. "I got off to a really nice start, and then was able to keep it going," Åberg told Sky Sports. "Off the tee I was struggling a little bit, mid-round - I got away with it a little bit - and then it was nice to finish the last three holes with a couple of birdies and play some good golf." Schauffele had set the initial clubhouse target after a birdie-birdie finish closed out a second-round 65, while Young made four birdies in a seven-hole stretch on his back nine to get within three off the lead. McIlroy and Scheffler limp through The world's top two were both in danger of making shock early exits from the PGA Tour's flagship event, with McIlroy birdieing the opening hole of his second round but outside the projected cut with five holes to play. McIlroy remained on two-over until the par-five ninth - his final hole of the day - where a sensational 284-yard three-wood saw him finish 30 feet from the flag and set up a two-putt birdie. "The game feels good - I just went five or six days without really touching a club or doing anything, so getting my feels back," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "I'm not sure I'm going to contend for the title but another couple of days to have a respectable finish hopefully." Scheffler was far from his brilliant best but looked safely through until he followed a bogey at the 14th with a missed par-save from inside three feet at the 16th, dropping him back to two over, but a 10-foot birdie at the last avoided a first missed cut since the 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship. Who will win The Players? Watch throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Saturday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf, with Featured Groups, Featured Holes and bonus feeds on the Sky Sports+. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.