Sorrento is a terrific base to explore the likes of Pompeii and the Isle of Capri, says Tony Clayton-Lea.

A brilliant round of 64, eight under par, sent Dubliner Peter Lawrie shooting to the top of the leaderboard after yesterday’s opening round of the Sicily Open at the stunningly beautiful Verdura course.

They might jet around the world to play in sun-kissed courses and earn wages of national debt levels but being a pro-golfer has its downsides too, as Euro Tour golfer Shane Lowry discovered last night.

UK airport group BAA has agreed to sell its interest in Naples International Airport for €150m.

British airports operator BAA today said it had made an excellent start to the year as quarterly operating profits climbed 18.2% to £175m (€265m).