TOP CLICKS: The week that was in viral stories

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The Toronto Sun takes you straight to the heart of the action.

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Whether it’s local news, provincial and national politics, or the worlds of celebrity and sports, we have you covered.

Some stories set the world on fire. And these ones are the most popular online stories from the past seven days, clicked on by Sun readers like you.

Here are our top stories:

Jon Rahm’s refusal to pay back $300 million holding up PGA Tour-LIV Golf talks

While talks between the PGA Tour and the Saudi investment group that back LIV Golf have made some headway as of late, there is one teeny-tiny $300-million US obstacle getting in the way of the rival tours coming together.

Okay, not so teeny-tiny – some PGA players want Jon Rahm and other golfers who made the leap to LIV to give back the money they earned from the breakaway tour, Dan Bilicki reported.

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Rahm, for example, made a reported $300 million last December, and also recently won the tour’s season points title, earning an $18-million bonus.

It’s become a major sticking point in negotiations, and could mean an agreement won’t ever be reached.

Rogers buys out Bell in $4.7-billion takeover of MLSE

The Toronto sports scene underwent a drastic change this week after Rogers Communications bought out Bell’s 37.5% stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment for $4.7 billion.

MLSE owns the Maple Leafs and Raptors, Argos, Toronto FC and the Marlies, while Rogers already owns the Blue Jays, the Rogers Centre and Sportsnet.

It’s a bold move by Rogers and underscores the company’s focus in consolidating their hold on live sports in the market, Mike Ganter reported.

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And Rogers’ dealing days may not be over just yet.

SIMMONS SAYS: Charles Barkley ‘disappointed’ at friend Christine Simpson’s exit from Sportsnet

Following the news that longtime hockey broadcaster Christine Simpson was let go by Sportsnet, former NBA superstar Charles Barkley told Steve Simmons how “disappointed” he was for his pal.

He called her a “tremendous talent,” “wonderful person” and “great friend,” who he met more than two decades ago.

Barkley and Simpson, along with Canadian broadcaster Rod Black, became close friends over the years, and almost every time Barkley mentions Canada on television, he finds a way to reference both of them.

Now, he believes any network would be “wise to hire her.”

Barkley is clearly a guy you want in your corner.

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Brampton targets errant landlords with $83,500 in fines

Brampton officials have hit some of the city’s less well-meaning landlords with $83,500 in fines for 611 administrative penalties since Jan. 1 under the municipality’s residential rental licensing program.

Bylaw officers conducted 4,700 inspections and issued more than 2,200 rental licenses under the program, which applies to landlords with one to four rental units in the city’s downtown area, Jane Stevenson reported.

Before the program, smaller landlords were not subject to the same regulations as larger ones.

Now, they must comply with Brampton’s property standards bylaws, as well as provisions in fire and building codes.

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WARMINGTON: Woman accused of stealing Porsche, running over owner in Mississauga

Peel Regional Police are reminding the public to “be vigilant when selling items online,” after a harmless-looking woman showed up at a seller’s Mississauga home and was caught on camera allegedly stealing the Porsche that was for sale and running over its owner in the process.

Cops said the victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries but was in stable condition.

The video is pretty clear — and disturbing, Joe Warmington reported on Thursday.

And on Friday, cops announced Sarah Badshaw, 18, had been charged in the violent carjacking.

However, investigators continue to hunt for a second car, believed to have been involved with the obfuscation effort to trick the victim into handing over his keys, and the accomplices to the auto theft.

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