JACK ABRAMOFF, the disgraced lobbyist at the heart of a Washington influence-peddling scandal that has rattled top Republicans, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison yesterday for fraud in the purchase of a Florida casino cruise line.

GOLFERS are not, generally, a hardy breed. A rain cloud here, a stiff breeze there and your average Joe will stay under the duvet for another couple of hours; the journeyman pro will consult the order of merit to see if it really is worth his while and the game’s elite will be straight onto their agents to see if they can crank up the Lear Jet engines without upsetting the sponsors.