Initially, Rory McIlroy shared a common sentiment with many golf enthusiasts regarding one of the more peculiar aspects of this week’s U.S. Open.

The question on everyone’s mind was: Why are they watering the course in the middle of the day?

When asked about the potential for Shinnecock Hills to be watered between player waves on Thursday and Friday, McIlroy was curious about the tournament officials’ strategy in managing course conditions during the initial rounds.

At the outset, he was puzzled.

“My immediate thought was, ‘That’s ridiculous, why are they doing that?’” McIlroy confessed.

But after hearing the reasoning, McIlroy said the plan made more sense — especially at Shinnecock.

“It’s a unique golf course,” McIlroy said. “The members at Shinnecock will tell you they do that every single day — every single day at this course the members play, they put water on the course at 2 p.m. So, it’s a unique golf course and it seems like it’s just something they have to do.”

McIlroy arrives at the U.S. Open as one of the tournament’s central figures, coming off another Masters win and looking to add a second U.S. Open title to the one he claimed in 2011.

That makes his view on the setup notable, particularly at a venue where conditions can quickly become part of the story.

The concern, McIlroy said, is not the act of watering itself. It is the perception that officials might be reacting because the course has become too difficult to control.

“For me it’s more … my concern was you don’t want it to look as if you’ve lost the golf course, and you’re starting to put water on it, which I don’t think is what they’re going to do,” he said.

Shinnecock has a history of testing the line between difficult and unfair at U.S. Opens, making any mid-round maintenance plan especially sensitive.

McIlroy said the expected wind on Thursday makes the idea more understandable, particularly if the goal is to keep conditions fair between the morning and afternoon waves.

“I think, especially with the heaviness of the wind on Thursday, it’s probably prudent to do that,” McIlroy said.

Friday is not expected to be as windy, but McIlroy said the same approach could still make sense for competitive balance.

“Friday doesn’t look as windy, but I think just for, again, fairness and competitive integrity, they do it on Friday, too,” he said.

McIlroy does not expect the plan to be needed deep into the weekend, when officials should have more flexibility with a smaller field.

“I think they’ve got enough bandwidth on the weekend that they probably don’t need to do it,” he said.

For McIlroy, the explanation changed the way he viewed what could otherwise look like an unusual mid-round intervention.

“Once you actually listened and you let them break it down to you, you’re like, yeah, that makes sense,” he said.

By Thursday, though, McIlroy’s attention will be back on the golf as he begins his latest chase for another U.S. Open title.

Lawyers representing Luigi Mangione have announced a shift in their legal strategy as his murder trial approaches. They intend to change his plea and introduce a psychiatric defense, claiming Mangione was “extremely emotionally disturbed” at the time of the alleged crime.

This defense approach was revealed during a pretrial hearing on Wednesday, presided over by Judge Gregory Carro.

Judge Carro has responded by instructing the defense to promptly provide Mangione’s psychiatric records and make available documents from a confidential hearing held two weeks prior.

To proceed with a psychiatric defense, Mangione’s legal team is expected to formally retract his earlier plea. Previously, Mangione had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Luigi Mangione is facing charges in both state and federal court for the murder of Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, which occurred in December 2024.

His murder trial is set to begin on September 8. If the defense succeeds in convincing a jury that Mangione had been suffering from a psychiatric condition at the time of the alleged killing, he could receive less prison time. 

Mangione’s defense team requested a secret hearing two weeks ago to present the strategy. Carro has said he will unseal records related to the hearing to avoid blindsiding the prosecution. 

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s lawyer, has advocated against unsealing the transcript from the hearing, arguing that it could harm his federal case. 

Luigi Mangione’s defense team unveiled a new strategy at a hearing on Wednesday, informing the presiding judge that they were preparing to argue a ‘psychiatric defense’ 

If Mangione’s lawyers successfully argue that he was ‘extremely emotionally disturbed’ during the time of the alleged killing, he would not face federal prison time 

Mangione’s lawyers, Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo and Karen Agnifilo, presented the strategy at a pre-trial hearing. Mangione faces both state and federal charges for allegedly murdering Brian Thompson

The hearing was sealed because the judge agreed it could harm the defense’s case if they decided not to pursue a psychiatric defense. 

If Mangione’s team moves forward with a psychiatric defense, he would admit to the charged conduct, but argue that he should not be held criminally liable because his actions were a result of emotional disturbance. 

Carro has now tasked the defense with releasing evidence related to Mangione’s alleged emotional disturbance by Thursday. 

The judge said that the prosecution needs to know ‘what the malady is that this defendant suffers and how that triggered an extreme emotional disturbance at the time and place of the occurrence.’ 

‘Nothing is going to be a surprise. I’m not going to let you surprise the People on the eve of the trial. So, get it done.’ 

The defense is expected to produce the name of a mental health expert to vouch for Mangione’s alleged mental state alongside a report backing up the claim. 

Wednesday’s pre-trial hearing was at a Manhattan courthouse. Judge Carro is presiding over Mangione’s state case. He also faces stalking charges in federal court. Mangione’s federal trial is set to begin next year. 

Mangione’s attorneys have previously attempted to exclude evidence from trial, arguing that it was obtained during an illegal search. 

Judge Gregory Carro has ordered Mangione’s defense team to release evidence related to his alleged psychiatric disturbance by Thursday 

If Mangione’s team decides to pursue a psychiatric defense, they would have to withdraw his ‘not guilty’ plea and argue that he was ‘extremely emotionally disturbed’ during the crime 

Carro has previously ruled that a jury would be allowed to see evidence, including a gun and a notebook. 

However, a cellphone, a loaded magazine and a passport will not be allowed to be shown during court. 

Carro has also dismissed a charge related to possession of a gun magazine, which was found during a search of Mangione’s backpack during his arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 

The rulings came after a nine-day hearing in which the defense and prosecution sparred over whether key pieces of evidence were illegally obtained during his arrest. 

Carro agreed that the cellphone, magazine and passport were obtained after a ‘warrantless search,’ however, the items recovered at the police station, including the gun and a notebook, were recovered after a valid search. 

Allowing the jury to see the gun and notebook was a win for the prosecution. Attorneys have argued that Mangione’s notebook was a ‘manifesto,’ while his lawyers have downplayed the writings as a ‘journal.’ 

Writing in October 2024, Mangione said he wanted to ‘whack’ the chief executive of an insurance company at its annual ‘bean counter conference,’ six weeks before Thompson was killed. 

The judge also ruled that any statements Mangione made before he was technically in custody were inadmissible, which was about eight minutes. 

During that time, Mangione admitted to one cop that he should not have given him a fake ID with the name ‘Mark Rosario’ on it. 

This is a breaking news story…  

Lance Twiggs, who lived with and was romantically involved with Tyler Robinson, the accused in the alleged murder of Charlie Kirk, has been granted limited immunity. This development came to light through a recent court document.

The prosecutors revealed in a Tuesday filing that Twiggs received “use-immunity” for a statement he made to authorities on April 20. They intend to present Twiggs’ recorded statement, along with his interactions with Robinson, during the preliminary hearing scheduled for July, which is centered on Kirk’s death.

Tyler Robinson was present at a hearing in the 4th District Court in Provo on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, concerning the shooting death of Charlie Kirk. This hearing was captured by Trent Nelson for The Salt Lake Tribune.

The filing elaborates, “On April 20, 2026, as part of the preparation for the preliminary hearing, Mr. Twiggs provided a sworn recorded statement. He was warned that any falsehoods could lead to charges of obstruction of justice. The United States Attorney’s Office and the Utah County Attorney’s Office granted him use-immunity, ensuring that his statements from that day could not be used against him,” prosecutors detailed in the document.

This is a developing story.

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A colossal alligator sent shockwaves through a South Carolina neighborhood as it roamed the streets, eluding capture for a dramatic three hours.

Amy Brandi, a local resident, documented the intense scene on June 12 in Summerville. Her video footage reveals the intimidating reptile furiously swinging its tail and baring its teeth on her front lawn, while officers and wildlife experts struggled to subdue it.

Concerned neighbors gathered to watch the spectacle as the alligator sought refuge under Brandi’s car in her driveway, complicating efforts to ensnare it, as depicted in the footage.

Exclamations of “Oh my God!” filled the air as the formidable creature resisted capture, fighting back against its would-be captors.

“It was shocking because we didn’t know what was happening,” Brandi shared with Storyful, recounting the unexpected chaos.

“We just saw all these people gathering outside our house and as we went to open the front door to see what the commotion was, we saw the giant alligator lying right outside the door.”

Eventually, the wildlife experts snagged the gator, jumped on its back and tied it up, video shows.

Brandi posted the footage on Instagram, where it’s received more than 96,000 likes.

“Had to unfortunately tell my kids we couldn’t keep him,” she joked.

NEW YORK (AP) — Luigi Mangione plans to present a psychiatric defense in his upcoming state murder trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as revealed by a judge on Wednesday.

Judge Gregory Carro announced that Mangione’s legal team intends to argue that he was experiencing “extreme emotional disturbance” when the incident occurred.

This defense strategy means Mangione would acknowledge responsibility for Thompson’s death but argue that certain circumstances justify a reduced charge.

Should the jury conclude that Mangione was emotionally disturbed during the crime, he might face a manslaughter conviction instead of murder, which would result in a lighter prison sentence.

This differs from a not guilty by reason of insanity defense, which might lead to confinement in a psychiatric institution rather than a prison term.

Carro’s ruling came two weeks after he held a secret hearing on the matter at the request of the defense. He said he will unseal records pertaining to the hearing and the defense’s move for a psychiatric defense.

“The reasons for the sealing was to give the defense an opportunity to determine whether they were going forth with that defense and the nature of that defense,” Carro said.

Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said unsealing the transcript of the secret hearing and materials related to his psychiatric defense will harm him in his federal case.

“The reason why we asked for the sealing is that this defense is not available federally and Mr. Mangione is being prosecuted federally and this is prejudicial to his defense to the exact same facts,” Friedman Agnifilo said.

The judge had been set to rule on the matter on Tuesday, but delayed it a day because prosecutors failed to inform Mangione’s jail that he was needed in court.

Mangione sat between his lawyers wearing a blue suit and a light-colored button-down shirt. He is set to go to trial on Sept. 8.

Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges in the Dec. 4, 2024, killing. His federal trial, which involves stalking charges, is set to begin on Oct. 13. He could spend his life in prison if convicted in either case.

Thompson, 50, was killed as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind. Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of Manhattan. At a May 18 hearing, Carro ruled that a gun and notebook that prosecutors say link Mangione to the killing can be used as evidence against him.

The gun, a 3D-printed pistol, matches the one used to kill Thompson, prosecutors said. The notebook describes wanting to “wack” a health insurance executive and rebelling against “the deadly, greed fueled health insurance cartel.”

Also Wednesday, Carro dismissed a charge related to a gun magazine that he had ruled inadmissible because it was found during an initial search of Mangione’s backpack at the McDonald’s.

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This story has been corrected to show that Mangione could receive less prison time as a result of a conviction using this defense, not be sent to a psychiatric facility.

A woman from Missouri has confessed to exchanging her foster daughter for a monkey due to difficulties in their relationship.

Seventy-year-old Brenda Deutsch, residing in Winfield, accepted a plea agreement on Monday, pleading guilty to a charge of first-degree child endangerment.

Deutsch, who has fostered over 200 children, reportedly sent her foster daughter, who was in eighth grade, to a family in Texas in return for the monkey, according to a witness’s statement to investigators.

The circumstances came to light after the Winfield School District initiated an investigation in February 2025 due to the girl’s frequent school absences.

It was revealed that the girl had been handed over to Child Protective Services (CPS) in Texas after her new guardians left her with another family that was unable to care for her.

‘Both of those people are disabled and not able to take care of the child. From what we can tell, the child was taking care of them,’ Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood said.

‘The child had been left alone in Texas for extended periods of time. It wasn’t isolated. It was a culture of abuse and neglect.’ 

Prior to that, authorities were investigating Deutsch after the Missouri Department of Social Services received an anonymous tip in November 2024 that she was abusing the girl, court documents said.  

Brenda Deutsch, 70, faces up to seven years in prison after taking a plea deal on Monday in which she admitted trying to trade her foster daughter for a monkey

The Missouri foster mom set up the trade in Texas because she and her foster daughter were ‘not getting along’ (File photo)

The child told investigators her foster mother hit her in the face, whacked her with a paddle and smacked her, leaving her with injuries and bleeding, the probable cause document viewed by the Daily Mail said. 

She told investigators that the abuse had begun three years prior, from September 2022 to January 2025. 

She also detailed a time where Deutsch was leaning over her while she laid on the living room floor, where the foster mother allegedly struck her and called her a ‘b**ch,’ the probable cause document said. 

The girl claimed Deutsch instructed a family member to hold her down while she pulled down the girl’s pants and spanked her with a paddle, the document said. 

The eighth grader also said Deutsch threatened to ‘kill her’ and that the older woman called her ‘annoying and rude.’ She also said she spoke with many people about Deutsch’s behavior but her complaints were not believed, per the document.

She also told investigators that she spent nine months in a residential psychiatric facility when she was 14 due to Deutsch calling the police on her after she tried to run away, court documents said. 

The girl, who was not identified, also claimed other children had been abused by Deutsch. 

Deutsch had fostered more than 200 children over the decades during which time more than 200 calls were made about her alleged behavior

Winfield School District located the child after it began its investigation into her absences. 

The school resource officer got in contact with Texas law enforcement, who spoke with the child who confirmed she was unharmed.

Deutsch’s friend told investigators that Deutsch did not want the child back, the affidavit states.

Deutsch said she had bought a plane ticket for the girl, but her friend had no way to get her to the airport, court documents said.  

KMOV reported that more than 200 phone calls to a hotline had been made against Deutsch over the decades but she was never reported to the police, frustrating prosecutors. 

‘Disappointed to learn that this particular home, despite the notoriety that it had gained, was not in our system,’ Wood said. 

‘We didn’t have any police reports. We didn’t have any requests for prosecution. We didn’t have anything.’ 

Deutsch faces up to seven years in prison. Her case will be reviewed on July 21. 

The elderly woman also still faces a financial fraud case, which is pending.